Ontario Premier urges Canada to consider taxes on energy and minerals amid U.S. tariffs

The United States recently announced 50 percent tariffs on $29 billion of Canadian products, prompting Ontario Premier Doug Ford to declare that “nothing should be off the table,” including possible taxes or export limits on oil, electricity and critical minerals. Ford recalled a 25 percent electricity export surcharge he imposed in early 2025, which he later withdrew after a Washington meeting, and he compared the situation to the Trump-China trade dispute.

He emphasized that the U.S. depends on Canada for half its aluminum and about four-million barrels of oil daily, as well as billions in electricity imports. By raising the price of Canadian energy and minerals, Ford believes inflationary pressure could force the Trump administration to reconsider its stance. He warned that such steps would raise costs for Canadians and strain storage capacity, but might also spur domestic sourcing and new export markets. Ultimately, Ford argues that a brief, targeted retaliation is necessary to defend Canada’s interests in the ongoing trade conflict.