Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced on Tuesday that the province has agreed to suspend a 25 per cent surcharge on electricity exports to the United States, following discussions with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.
The decision comes in the wake of US President Donald Trump’s threats to impose a 50 per cent tariff on Canadian steel and aluminium imports.
In a joint statement with Lutnick, posted on X, Ford confirmed that he would meet with Lutnick and the United States Trade Representative on Thursday to discuss the renewal of the US-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement.
The meeting comes ahead of Trump’s self-imposed April 2 deadline for implementing “reciprocal tariffs.”
“In response, Ontario agreed to suspend its 25 per cent surcharge on exports of electricity to Michigan, New York, and Minnesota,” Ford stated.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that he was considering increasing tariffs on Canada, specifying that duties on steel and aluminium would rise from 25 per cent to 50 per cent starting Wednesday.
He attributed the decision to Ontario’s electricity surcharge, adding that he would declare a “national emergency” in the three affected US states to facilitate the tariff increase.
The situation continues to develop as trade negotiations between Canada and the US intensify.
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