() Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced a 25% export tax on electricity sent to the U.S., stating it will go forward despite President Donald Trump announcing another month’s reprieve on proposed tariffs.

Trump’s escalating trade war has sent stock markets tumbling around the world as businesses grapple with uncertainty as Trump proposes tariffs, sometimes backing down amid retaliatory actions from other countries with temporary reprieves.

Ford joined to discuss his decision.

“I always start off every interview with saying how much I love Americans and Canadians love Americans. They love the U.S., and I believe Americans love Canadians,” he said.

Ford said he wants to be able to send more exports to America.

“I want to send more critical minerals to the U.S. and avoid a recession, a self-inflected recession because of President Trump’s tariffs,” he said. “It’s unacceptable.”

Ford said he wanted to build a North American fortress where Canada and the U.S. would be untouchable, wealthy and safe as they allied with each other.

Ford also addressed the issue of fentanyl and drug trafficking, noting drugs are a problem on both sides of the border, and Canada is working with U.S. authorities to combat drug trafficking.

Following the tariffs, Canadian provinces face losing tax revenues from products like alcohol that would typically be imported from the U.S.

“I guess that’s kind of what tariff and trade wars are all about,” Ford said. “Ontario’s the largest purchaser of alcohol in the entire world. We deal with 35 states, 3,600 products.”

He called on Canadians and Americans to come together and remember a shared history.

“I don’t want to do this, but you have to negotiate through strength, and that’s one of the tools,” he said.