Amid escalating trade tensions sparked by President Donald Trump’s tariffs, the leader of Canada’s most populous province has issued a stark warning—threatening to cut off energy exports to the United States.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford made the bold statement during a mining convention on Monday, vowing to retaliate if Ontario’s economy is severely impacted.

“If they want to try to annihilate Ontario, I will do everything—including cutting off their energy—with a smile on my face,” Ford declared, according to the Toronto Sun.

Emphasizing the significance of Ontario’s power exports to the U.S., Ford added, “They rely on our energy; they need to feel the pain. If they come at us hard, we’re going to come back twice as hard.”

The United States is a major importer of Canadian electricity, with New York, Michigan, and Minnesota being the top consumers of Ontario’s power supply.

In 2022, Canada’s electricity exports to the U.S. hit a record high of $5.8 billion, according to the Canada Energy Regulator.

Trade War Escalates with Retaliatory Tariffs

Ford’s comments come amid growing economic tensions between the U.S. and its key trading partners.

On Tuesday, President Trump formally launched a trade war against the United States’ three largest trading partners, prompting swift backlash.

One of the most outspoken critics of the move, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, condemned the tariffs and announced that Canada would impose retaliatory duties on more than $100 billion worth of American goods. These countermeasures, he stated, would be implemented within 21 days, underscoring Canada’s firm stance against Trump’s protectionist policies.

As Canada and other global players push back, the trade dispute is poised to intensify, potentially reshaping economic relations between the U.S. and its allies.