Trump warns Canada will pay biggest price in HISTORY and triples down on 51st state threat as trade war explodes
PRESIDENT Donald Trump has threatened Canada with historic financial punishment for imposing 25% tariffs on electricity in three US states.
The brewing trade war between the two neighboring countries exploded on Tuesday after Trump doubled the 25% levy on Canadian steel and aluminum in response to the government of Ontario's electricity surcharge.
In a lengthy post on Truth Social, President Trump said that effective on March 12, all steel and aluminum imports coming into the US will be slapped with 50% tariffs.
The president said he would declare a national emergency on electricity in the affected states - Minnesota, New York, and Michigan - to ease the burden of Canada's "abusive threat."
"Why would our Country allow another Country to supply us with electricity, even for a small area?" Trump said.
"Who made these decisions, and why? And can you imagine Canada stooping so low as to use ELECTRICITY, that so affects the life of innocent people, as a bargaining chip and threat?
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"They will pay a financial price for this so big that it will be read about in History Books for many years to come!"
President Trump warned that if Canada did not stop, or decided to increase its tariffs, he will move to impose levies on cars coming into the US from Canada.
'TARIFF ABUSER'
"If other egregious, long time Tariffs are not likewise dropped by Canada, I will substantially increase, on April 2nd, the Tariffs on Cars coming into the U.S. which will, essentially, permanently shut down the automobile manufacturing business in Canada," Trump warned.
"Canada is a Tariff abuser, and always has been, but the United States is not going to be subsidizing Canada any longer.
"We don't need your Cars, we don't need your Lumber, we don't need your Energy, and very soon, you will find that out. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!"
Ontario Premier Doug Ford responded to Trump's initial tariffs by charging 25% more for the electricity his province provides to about 1.5 million Americans in Minnesota, New York, and Michigan.
Ford warned that he "will not hesitate to increase" the levies or completely shut off power to the three US northeastern states.
"Believe me when I say I do not want to do this," Ford told reporters in Toronto on Monday, before blaming President Trump for his actions.
"I feel terrible for the American people who didn't start this trade war. It's one person who is responsible, it's President Trump."
'CHERISHED 51st STATE'
Trump reiterated his notion that Canada should be part of the United States, which would make the tariffs disappear.
"The only thing that makes sense is for Canada to become our cherished Fifty First State," Trump again said.
"This would make all Tariffs, and everything else, totally disappear.
"Canadians’ taxes will be very substantially reduced, they will be more secure, militarily and otherwise, than ever before, there would no longer be a Northern Border problem, and the greatest and most powerful nation in the World will be bigger, better and stronger than ever — And Canada will be a big part of that.
"The artificial line of separation drawn many years ago will finally disappear, and we will have the safest and most beautiful Nation anywhere in the World — And your brilliant anthem, 'O Canada,' will continue to play, but now representing a GREAT and POWERFUL STATE within the greatest Nation that the World has ever seen!"
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