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Ontario Premier Doug Ford is once again threatening to cut off electricity exports to the United States amid an escalating trade war that will have significant impacts on provincial industries like steel and autos.
Ahead of a news conference on Monday afternoon, the premier told The Associated Press that United States President Donald Trump had underestimated Canada.
Ford said Trump had “declared war, economic war against his closest friend and ally” before invoking late president Ronald Reagan, whose opposition to tariffs Ford previously featured in a television advertising campaign aimed at Americans.
Ford noted that Trump keeps a portrait of Reagan near his desk.
“He’d be throwing up on him from the picture if he knew what was going on, spinning around in his grave right now,” Ford said.
“He should maybe take that picture off the wall and move it somewhere else. Because right now, Ronald Reagan would be disgusted with President Trump.”
Ford said “everything is on the table” if the dispute worsens, including cutting off electricity and critical minerals from Ontario. He also called for Canada to consider using oil and potash as leverage.
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“I’ll cut them off,” Ford said of critical minerals. “You won’t get a grain of sand out of Ontario.”
Talks collapsed late on Friday evening, with Prime Minister Mark Carney recalling negotiators to Ottawa.
At one point, a deal looked possible. Although Canadian officials had urged some caution, Trump had declared, “we have a deal.”
The collapse of talks triggered 50 per cent tariffs from the United States on billions of dollars of goods, levies Canada says it will match “dollar-for-dollar” in early September.
Carney said over the weekend trade talks collapsed over disagreements about how to handle tariffs on trucks, Canadian language rules and restrictions on which countries it could strike trade deals with.
Monday morning saw Trump escalate his threats against Canada, suggesting he could levy even more tariffs.
“On January First, 2027, Tariffs on all Cars, Trucks, both large and small, Automotive Parts, and Steel, will be increased to 50 per cent. Build in the U.S. and there are ZERO TARIFFS,” he posted to Truth Social Monday morning.
“Canada has been ripping off the United States of America for years. Their ridiculously high tariffs on our Farmers and farm products has made life impossible for these great American Patriots, and has long created a 60 Billion Dollar Deficit between our two Countries. Not sustainable, and NOT ANYMORE!”
He also added that “Canada will be treated like a State no longer!”
— with files from Global News’ Adriana Fallico
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