Canadian Ontario Premier Doug Ford said March 11 he was suspending 25 per cent duties on electricity exports to the United States, after talking to the U.S. Commerce Secretary and arranging a meeting with him in Washington.
“They call you and hand you an olive branch, the worst thing I can do as premier of Ontario is ignore it and hang up,” Ford said.
White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said Tuesday that Trump has withdrawn his decision to double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminium, even though the federal government still plans to impose 25 per cent tariffs on all steel and aluminium imports starting Wednesday.
Trump said he appreciated Ford’s decision to suspend the surcharge on electricity exports.
Earlier, Trump said he would double planned tariffs on steel and aluminium from 25 per cent to 50 per cent for Canada. Trump said on social media that the tariff increases, which are set to take effect Wednesday, are in response to higher duties on electricity.
Ford said Trump started this economic war against Canada.
On Monday, Ontario’s premier announced an increase in the export price of electricity for the 1.5 million U.S. households and businesses in Minnesota, Michigan and New York to which the Canadian province supplies power.
On March 4, 25 per cent duties on imports into the US of goods from Canada and Mexico, which Donald Trump announced on February 2, came into effect. A 10 per cent duty on imports from China was also imposed. Trump attributed the imposition of the duties to the need to “make Mexico, Canada and China honour their promises to stop illegal immigration and stem the flow of poisonous fentanyl and other drugs” into the US.
All three countries imposed their own duties in response to U.S. duties
US President Donald Trump on 6 March 6 March again postponed for a month the imposition of duties of 25 per cent on a significant portion of goods from Mexico and some goods from Canada over concerns about the economic impact of a wider trade war.