The federal government of Ontario on Tuesday backed off its menace to impose a surcharge on electrical energy to a few U.S. states amid broader commerce talks.
In a joint assertion from Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, the 2 leaders stated that they had a “productive conversation about the economic relationship between the United States and Canada.”
The 2 stated they’d meet in particular person in Washington on Thursday to debate a renewal of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada commerce settlement forward of reciprocal tariffs set to enter impact on April 2.
“In response, Ontario agreed to suspend its 25 percent surcharge on exports of electricity to Michigan, New York and Minnesota,” Ford and Lutnick stated.
President Trump earlier Tuesday had threatened to double deliberate metal and aluminum tariffs on Canada starting Wednesday, citing Ontario’s resolution to place a cost on electrical energy exports.
A White Home spokesperson confirmed that Trump would not comply with by way of on that menace, though beforehand introduced 25 p.c tariffs on metal and aluminum imports would nonetheless go into impact.
“President Trump has as soon as once more used the leverage of the American financial system, which is the very best and largest on the earth, to ship a win for the American folks,” White Home spokesperson Kush Desai stated in an announcement. “Pursuant to his previous executive orders, a 25 percent tariff on steel and aluminum with no exceptions or exemptions will go into effect for Canada and all of our other trading partners at midnight, March 12th.”
Trump stated Ford had been a “gentleman” in talks with the administration.
The USA in 2024 imported extra metal and aluminum from Canada than from every other nation.
Trump earlier Tuesday had additionally threatened further tariffs in opposition to Canada within the coming weeks, pointing to plans for his administration to impose reciprocal tariffs starting April 2 on all international locations with duties on U.S. merchandise. These included tariffs on vehicles, which Trump claimed would “essentially, permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada.”
The president earlier this month introduced 25 p.c tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, although he has introduced one-month exemptions for automobile elements and different items that fall beneath the U.S.-Mexico-Canada commerce settlement signed in 2020 throughout his first time period.
The uncertainty round Trump’s tariff plans have led to a downturn within the inventory market, and the president has not dominated out the risk of a recession this yr.
Whereas markets briefly rebounded on Tuesday, then ended properly within the pink once more. The Dow Jones was down 478 factors or 1.13 p.c for the day.
— Up to date at 4:22 p.m. EDT
