Trump Announces 50% Tariffs on Canadian Steel and Aluminum, Threatens National Emergency Over Electricity Dispute
U.S. President Donald Trump has imposed sweeping new tariffs on aluminum and steel imports from Canada, citing retaliation against Ontario’s recent decision to implement a 25% surcharge on electricity exported to northern U.S. states.
In a lengthy statement on Truth Social, Trump justified the move as necessary to counter what he described as unfair trade practices by Canada. He warned that if Canada did not remove tariffs on American agricultural products, he would escalate further by increasing taxes on the Canadian auto industry, a move he claimed would “essentially, permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada.”
The tariff hike, which raises existing duties from 25% to 50%, is set to take effect on Wednesday. Trump also emphasized Canada’s reliance on U.S. military protection and reiterated his long-standing assertion that Canada should become the 51st state of the United States. He suggested that if Canada joined the U.S., “all tariffs, and everything else, would totally disappear.”
Citing national security concerns, Trump declared his intent to announce a National Emergency on Electricity for the affected U.S. regions.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford had announced the 25% electricity surcharge on Monday, affecting power exports to Michigan, New York, and Minnesota. Ford, a conservative leader governing Canada’s most populous province, warned that if tensions continued to escalate, he was prepared to “shut the electricity off completely.”
Trump fired back in a second post, slamming Canada for using electricity as a “bargaining chip and threat.” He questioned why the U.S. had ever allowed itself to depend on foreign electricity and vowed that Canada would face a “financial price so big that it will be read about in history books for many years to come.”
