Canada threatens to halt energy exports to US in response to Trump's tariff plan

Doug Ford, Premier of Canada’s Ontario province, has warned that Canada may cut energy exports to the United States if President-elect Donald Trump follows through with his proposed 25 per cent tariffs.

Ford issued the threat following a meeting of Canadian provincial premiers, which was hosted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ottawa on December 11, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

“We will go to the extent of cutting off their energy — going down to Michigan, going down to New York State and over to Wisconsin. I don’t want this to happen, but my number one job is to protect Ontarians and Canadians as a whole,” he said, noting the importance of protecting Canadian interests.

He continued, “We need to be ready. We need to be ready to fight. This fight is coming 100 per cent on Jan. 20th or Jan. 21.”

The remarks come after Trump’s threats to impose tariffs on all Canadian and Mexican imports on his first day in office unless the two countries better control illegal immigration and drugs at their borders.

In response, Ottawa has attempted to reassure the incoming administration, citing statistics showing a low level of fentanyl and people trafficking occurring at the northern U.S. border. Despite these efforts, the recent heated rhetoric, including Trump’s social media jabs at Trudeau calling him the “governor” of a potential “51st” state, has added to tensions in Ottawa ahead of meetings between Trudeau and his provincial counterparts.

Canada is a major supplier of crude oil to the U.S., accounting for about 60 per cent of all American imports. According to Statistics Canada, the U.S. is the destination for 97 per cent of Canada’s crude oil exports.

By Khagan Isayev