National Emergency Declared: US President Donald Trump plans to declare a 'National Emergency on Electricity' over Ontario's 25% surcharge on electricity exports to the US.
By Aniket Chakraborty
Mar 13, 2025
Retaliatory Tariffs: Trump threatened to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum to 50% in response to Ontario’s surcharge.
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Ontario’s Countermove: Ontario imposed the 25% surcharge on electricity exports to New York, Michigan, and Minnesota as a response to US tariffs.
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Threat to Cut Exports: Ontario Premier Doug Ford warned of halting electricity exports entirely if Trump increased tariffs further.
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Electricity Dependency: Ontario is the largest exporter of electricity to the US, supplying 15.2 TWh in 2023.
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Trump’s Social Media Outburst: Trump criticized Canada for using electricity as a "bargaining chip," vowing they would pay a "financial price."
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Emergency Powers: The declaration allows the US to fast-track power plant operations and waive environmental regulations to address electricity shortages.
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Tariff Rollback: Trump reversed the 50% steel and aluminum tariffs within hours after Canada backed off its electricity surcharge plans.
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Trade War Escalation: The dispute highlights escalating tensions in US-Canada trade relations, with both sides imposing retaliatory measures.
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Previous Emergency: Trump had already declared a national energy emergency in January to retain baseload power production.