Ontario Premier Doug Ford apologized to Americans Tuesday as Canada considers drastic moves to counter-attack President Donald Trump's tariffs, saying "it's not you; it's your president."
In response to Donald Trump's newly announced 25% tariffs on Canadian goods, Ford warned that he is willing to cut off energy exports to the U.S. "with a smile" if the economic pressure continues.
"If they want to try to annihilate Ontario, I will do everything— including cutting off their energy with a smile on my face," Ford told reporters at a mining convention in downtown Toronto, the Toronto Sun reported.
On Tuesday, as the tariffs went into effect, the premier lamented the need to consider such a move, asserting that the Great White North has no other choice but to retaliate.
"This is unnecessary and we do have to retaliate. And I apologize to the American people. It's not you; it's your president that's causing this problem. We're the number one customer in the world in the United States, we had a great relationship, and want to continue on with that relationship, but I will use every tool in our toolbox to send a message to President Trump that this is the wrong thing to do," he told CNN's John Berman.
Trump's tariffs, which also target Mexico and China, include a 10% duty on Canadian energy exports. Canada is the largest supplier of crude oil to the U.S., providing 59% of all American crude oil imports in 2019, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
Ford has also said he will not be afraid to retaliate to the Trump administration by matching his tariffs, noting Canada's importance in U.S. usage of energy and electricity.
"They rely on our energy. They need to feel the pain. They want to come at us hard, we're going to come back twice as hard," he said.
Ford also suggested Monday that the federal and provincial governments are unified in their approach to fighting U.S. tariffs.
"The provinces have a big say in it, but it's the federal government that's leading the charge, and we're going to stand shoulder-to-shoulder no matter who's in the federal government," he said. "I didn't start this tariff war, but we're going to win this tariff war."
Ford's remark came as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced Tuesday a 25% levy on C$30 billion worth of U.S. imports, effective immediately. Tariffs on another C$125 billion in U.S. goods will take effect in 21 days, he added.
Trudeau also condemned the tariffs that President Trump imposed on Canada, Mexico and China, saying in a televised address that they would hurt people on both sides of the U.S.-Canadian border and that Canada would "relentlessly fight" to protect its economy.
The Prime Minister also said that Canada had done everything it had promised to secure its border, and that Trump's decision to impose the tariffs demonstrated that he had other goals in mind, like annexing Canada. He said he would meet with other Canadian officials Tuesday to discuss the country's response, including levying tariffs on U.S. exports and potentially canceling contracts for U.S. businesses.
"This is a time to hit back hard and to demonstrate that a fight with Canada will have no winners," Trudeau said.
© 2025 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
