Ontario, Canada's most populous province, is ready to take strong action if Donald Trump follows through on his threat to impose huge tariffs on Canadian goods. Premier Doug Ford said the province is preparing a list of retaliatory measures and might even stop exporting energy to the U.S. if Trump goes ahead with the 25% tax on Canadian products, according to the AP.

“We will use every tool in our toolbox to fight back,” Ford said on Wednesday after a call with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and other provincial premiers. “We can’t sit back and rollover. We just won’t as a country. And isn’t this a shame, our closest friends and allies.” According to a Ford spokesperson who talked to the AP, Ontario was a major exporter of electricity to Michigan, Minnesota and New York last year, powering 1.5 million homes in the United States. The news agency's request for comment from Trump's transition team was not answered.

Although it was unclear if other governments would follow Ontario's example, the spokesperson said the issue was addressed during the call. The United States imports over 85% of its power and 60% of its crude oil from Canada. Trump has threatened to impose a 25 per cent tax on goods coming from Canada and Mexico unless both nations eliminate unlawful border crossings and stop the flow of illegal drugs into the United States.

Canada has agreed to strengthen border control efforts, but Ford believes the tariffs—paid by American companies and passed on to consumers—are inevitable. Experts warn that gas prices in the Midwest could rise by 30 cents per gallon if the tariffs are enforced. Trump has pledged to boost domestic drilling to keep gas prices low, but the U.S. doesn’t produce the same type of oil it needs.