According to the Associated Press, if the U.S.-Canada trade war escalates further, Canada has threatened to cut off all electricity supplies to the United States, as well as exports of high-purity critical minerals such as nickel and uranium.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford stated: "I will cut off supply... not a single grain of sand will they get from Ontario," and countered: "What can they do without high-purity nickel?"

Ford said all options are now on the table for negotiation, including halting power supply to 1.5 million American households and suspending exports of high-purity nickel and uranium.

Ford's threat is not baseless; its immediate trigger was the complete breakdown of U.S.-Canada trade talks. Faced with the Trump administration's announcement of punitive tariffs as high as 50% on Canadian goods like automobiles and steel, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau angrily walked out of negotiations and announced retaliatory tariffs on a "one-for-one dollar" basis. In this context, Ford—leader of Canada’s core province—publicly threatening to cut off electricity and critical minerals is an extension of Canada’s broader hardline counter-strategy, intended to signal to the U.S. that it will not back down under any circumstances.

What Canada threatens to cut off are not ordinary goods, but strategic resources deeply tied to U.S. national security and daily life. On the energy front, Ontario is Canada’s largest exporter of electricity to the U.S., supplying power to about 1.5 million homes and businesses in states like Michigan and New York. In terms of minerals, Ontario hosts some of the world’s top nickel mines and the largest commercial uranium refining facility globally. High-purity nickel is an essential material for electric vehicle batteries and military applications (such as military aircraft and naval vessels), while uranium is central to nuclear energy. At a time when the U.S. is intensively seeking to reduce reliance on China for critical minerals, Canada’s threat to cut off supply precisely targets America’s Achilles’ heel.

The essence of this confrontation is a battle for political survival. For Canada, Trump’s maximum pressure has ironically fostered rare cross-party unity domestically, with over 75% of the public supporting the government’s tough response, enabling Prime Minister Trudeau’s administration to consolidate its political standing. For the United States, the tariffs would directly fuel inflation, hitting consumers, and swing states like Michigan and Ohio—highly dependent on trade with Canada—will face midterm elections in November. Ford clearly recognized that Trump, in an election year, cannot afford the political risks associated with soaring energy prices and damage to key industries, which is why he dared make such a bold statement.

In summary, Ford’s threat to cut off electricity and mineral supplies represents Canada’s strongest card after being cornered. It serves both as a firm rebuttal to U.S. bullying and as a precise strategic calculation exploiting the U.S. domestic political cycle.

Original source: toutiao.com/article/1874480723300555/

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