Ontario, Canada starts electricity export surcharge to 3 states Monday

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Ontario started a 25% surcharge Monday for the electricity it exports to three U.S. states.

Head of the Canadian province Premier Doug Ford has been an outspoken critic of the tariffs President Donald Trump has imposed on imports from Canada, saying he would restrict the electricity exports to Minnesota, Michigan and New York if the tariffs continue.

In a press conference Monday, Ford said they were moving forward with a 25% export fee on electricity for 1.5 million homes and businesses, and may increase it or cut it off depending on Trump’s actions.

Ford estimated on average it would add $100 to monthly electricity bills for impacted Americans.

“Believe me when I say I do not want to do this. I feel terrible for the American people, because it’s not the American people who started this trade war,” Ford said at the press conference. “It’s one person who’s responsible. That’s President Trump.”

Does Canada supply electricity to US? What to know after lawmaker’s threat of surcharge, shutoff

After rolling back some tariffs, Trump threatened more against Canada Friday

Trump announced in February he would impose tariffs on imports from America’s top trading partners – China, Mexico and Canada – in an effort to convince them to help secure the border and stop the flow of illegal drugs into the country. After talks with leaders in Mexico and Canada ahead of the initial February start date, Trump delayed those 25% tariffs for a month.

But Trump announced time was up on March 3, and the tariffs went into effect overnight. Stock markets slipped, Canada ordered reciprocal tariffs, and by Thursday, Trump gave another 30-day extension to goods covered under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which applies to approximately 38% of imports from Canada.

Canadian energy and a fertilizer ingredient potash will face a lower rate of 10%.

But by Friday, Trump seemed poised to impose additional reciprocal tariffs on Canadian lumber and dairy. Speaking in the Oval Office, he said they could be ordered as soon as Monday or Tuesday, Reuters reported.

Contributing: USA TODAY’s Joey Garrison and Reuters

Kinsey Crowley is a trending news reporter at USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected], and follow her on X and TikTok @kinseycrowley.

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