How the Ford government in Ontario plans to escalate trade war with the U.S.
By: By Colin D'Mello & Isaac Callan - Global News
BUZZ NOTE: There are two videos in this article, at least one of which will be a news broadcast concerning this topic, that I'm unable to open, but can be accessed by you by clicking on the "SEEDED CONTENT" link just below this message, which will open the source article on Canada's Global News.
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
How the Ford government in Ontario plans to escalate trade war with the U.S.
Cutting off power to 1.5 million Americans, restricting imports of U.S.-made alcohol, and limiting exports of Canadian critical minerals are among the list of measures the Ford government is considering if a looming trade war with the incoming Trump administration escalates in the new year.
On Wednesday, Premier Doug Ford , along with other Canadian premiers, met with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss the 25 per cent tariffs U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump has threatened to impose on all Canadian imports.
After the meeting, Ford, who now believes there is a “100 per cent” chance that tariffs will be imposed in early January, offered a threat of his own: to “cut off” millions of American residents living in border states from Ontario’s energy exports.
“It would turn off the lights to a million-and-a-half Americans,” Ford told Global News. “If they come at us we have to stand up for Canadians, we have to stand up for Ontarians.”
Ontario is 'sending a message': Ford
Sources outlined four potential measures:
- Restricting electricity exports to Michigan, New York State and Minnesota
- Restricting exports of Canadian critical minerals required for electric vehicle batteries and supply chain
- Restricting U.S.-based companies from the Government of Ontario’s procurement process
- Restricting the LCBO, the largest purchaser of alcohol in the world, from buying American-made alcohol
Sources in the Ford government describe the measures as “escalation maneuvres” that are still being fleshed out.
One source added the government is “deadly serious” about the approach, even if the Premier offered personal reservations about cutting off the power supply to millions of American homes and businesses.
Some of the measures would also come at a cost the Ontario’s economy.
For example, the energy restriction policy, conceived by the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, could cost the provincial treasury $400-$700 million in lost revenue.
Sources pointed out, however, the economic impact to Ontario’s southern neighbours is estimated to be in the billions. The Associated Press reported that about 85 per cent of electricity imported to the U.S. comes from Canadian generation.
Another source suggested the province could join forces with other provinces to maximize the pain.
“Shutting off its electricity is one thing,” the source said. “Ontario and Quebec shutting off electricity is entirely another thing.”
At a news conference Thursday, Ford told reporters the province is “sending a message” to the U.S.
“You come in and attack Ontario … we’re going to use every tool in our toolbox to defend Ontarians and Canadians across the border,” he said.
“Let’s hope that never comes to that point.”
Ford went on to point the finger at Mexico — a claim he’s made in the past — for reportedly allowing Chinese companies to bypass CUSMA rules and export vehicles and parts into the U.S. and Canada through Mexican-built manufacturing plants.
“That’s the problem, and as I said yesterday, it’s very clear: Mexico has a choice to stand with Beijing or stand with Washington,” he added.
— with files from Aaron D’Andrea
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Besides all of the paybacks that Canada's Federal government will impose on the USA if Trump follows through with his tariff threats, this is what Ontario will do, and there's a good chance that most of the other Canadian provinces and territories will do so as well. Okay, so Trump impressed the voters with his bravado, now let's see if he intends to follow through and cause Americans a lot of misery. IMO it doesn't pay to be gullible, and Americans who were just might learn a big unnecessary lesson.
But don't worry, this time your White House won't get burned down.
Ford is planning to replace Trudeau.
Might be a good idea.
Ford?!?!
He's Trump in a Maple Leaf's uniform.
Maybe so, but Ontarians love their hockey team.
... and America elected Trump...
People can be very stupid!
Trump supporters blindly accept the outrageously stupid move of Trump to extemporaneously threaten Mexico, Canada, and China with across-the-board 25%/10% tariffs in a public display of bullying based on a factually-challenged perspective rather than first engage these important trade partners privately with a well-conceived proposal that could yield a compromised win-win.
I suppose Trump supporters naively believed that our trade partners would not counter / challenge Trump after being publicly challenged. That they would not factor in this inciteful rhetoric from a president-elect who is a known loose-cannon and who wrongly thinks he is always the smartest guy in the room.
Well said. Those who have responded (and I'm sure more will) HAD NO CHOICE but to respond or else their non-response would damn well cost them at their next elections and the devastating challenges they will receive from the members of their governments.
The idea behind the bluster is the hope to return manufacturing back to the US. It won't work and if by some miracle it did. it would bring a whole host of new problems none of the Trumpian populist want to talk about.
Now that the gullible American voters who succeeded in fucking themselves can't change their minds. I wonder what the next thing will be that he will backtrack on.
The next will be the mass deportations of illegals. That is impossible, enormously expensive, politically hazardous, economically stupid, and Trump really does not give a shit anyway.
Trump will try to get rid of the bad eggs, but how does he find them if they are not in prison? Does he go looking for illegals with criminal records? This could be a very long, expensive process to rid the nation of a tiny minority of illegals while, no doubt, breaking plenty of 'good eggs' in the process.
He'll start with the ones who've been eating people's pets.
Of course, I should have thought of that.
( Seriously now, those accused of eating pets were legal migrants. )
I'll bet there are a lot of people for whom that doesn't matter.
He's going to give it a try - fail, but claim victory anyway. They will cheer him for it.
The "one drop" rule will return.
I had no idea what the "one drop" rule was, so I had to search it on Microsoft Bing:
Yes.
And since interracial marriage was illegal...
Wanna bet on the future?
Bet on the future? I want to be beamed back to the past.
I'm trying to think of a time I would prefer. Not easy.
I know exactly when I want it to be - 1952
Seems as though Trump got his bluff called. He should follow the old Kenny Rogers song, ‘’Know when to hold’em and know when to fold’em.’’
LINK -> Trump says it’s ‘fine’ after Ford threat to cut energy to border states | Globalnews.ca
It's just ordinary people who'd be harmed. Who cares?
If Trump is going to start a trade war, nobody is going to benefit, and many will be harmed.
He‘ll declare victory, and his sheep will believe him.
They've already proven what they are. I wonder, do they have any wool?
Gotta wonder what goes through the minds of those who do not recognize the ill-will and counter-productive plans that Trump has unnecessarily initiated with our trade partners.
I have to say that he's smarter than he's given credit for - he had a plan, a plan to get elected, he understood what the voters wanted to hear and he made sure they heard it. even if it was going to hurt them in the long run.
He is a highly practiced con-man, a very good demagogue. No doubt about that.
My criticism of Trump is NOT that he is poor at being a scoundrel and a prick, he is very good at that.
He is, however, a buffoon in terms of dealing responsibly and rationally with reality.
Trump cares nothing about "allies" - that's a concept like "friends", alien to him. He's still playing to his base, stoking his own ego.
Trump is a big fan of the word “allies” … the last four letters of it anyways.
Right, Hal. He succeeded in combining two words into one - "all lies".