Tue Mar 11 15:20:00 UTC 2025: ## Ontario Cuts Power Exports to US States in Retaliation for Tariffs
**Toronto, Canada** – Ontario Premier Doug Ford escalated the trade dispute with the United States on Monday, imposing a 25 percent surcharge on electricity exports to Michigan, Minnesota, and New York. This retaliatory measure, costing those states an estimated $400,000 per day and raising average energy bills by approximately $100 per month, is a direct response to President Trump’s imposition of tariffs on Canadian goods.
The surcharge affects enough energy to power 1.5 million homes and businesses in the affected states. Premier Ford issued a stark warning, threatening to completely cut off power exports if the Trump administration does not fully revoke the tariffs. He rejected the recent temporary suspension of some tariffs, demanding a permanent end to the trade war.
“Until these tariffs are off the table, until the threat of tariffs is gone for good, we will not relent,” Ford stated.
Minnesota Governor Tim Walz denounced the tariffs on X (formerly Twitter), stating that his state’s residents are “the first victims of Trump’s trade war.”
While the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) anticipates minimal impact due to the relatively small percentage of energy imported from Canada, the New York Independent System Operator is assessing the potential effects, previously expressing concerns about significant cost increases. New York imported nearly 3 percent of its total energy from Ontario in 2023.
This latest action continues Premier Ford’s aggressive stance against the Trump administration’s trade policies. Previous actions include removing American alcohol products from Ontario’s liquor stores. The situation remains tense, with the potential for further escalation depending on the response from the US government.
First Piper 