President Donald Trump said Tuesday he will increase the tariffs imposed on imports of steel and aluminum from Canada by 25%, bringing the total duty now faced by those goods to 50%, in response to the province of Ontario placing a 25% tariff on electricity coming into the United States.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said he would be declaring a « national emergency » on the area Ontario has targeted so that the tariffs would go into effect Wednesday.
Trump also called on Canada to drop the duties he said the nation imposes on American dairy products, and threatened to « substantially increase » tariffs on cars imported into the U.S. if the nation did not drop « other egregious, long time tariffs. »
Ontario Premier Doug Ford had announced Monday a 25% surcharge on electricity tapped by some 1.5 million residents of Michigan, Minnesota and New York that came into effect Monday in response to Trump’s recent, bellicose language toward Canada.
« I will not hesitate to increase this charge, » Ford said at a press conference. « If the United States escalates, I will not hesitate to shut the electricity off completely. … Believe me when I say I do not want to do this. I feel terrible for the American people who didn’t start this trade war. It’s one person who is responsible, it’s President Trump.”
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
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