Ontario surcharge on energy sent to U.S. still suspended after productive meeting [Video]

A surcharge on energy exported from Ontario into the United States will continue to be suspended, according to the premier’s office, after a high-stakes meeting with President Donald Trump’s commerce secretary.

Premier Doug Ford’s team confirmed Thursday afternoon the short-lived energy surcharge would not be reintroduced after a sit-down with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, which Ford described as “the best meeting I’ve ever had” in Washington.

Despite the premier’s glowing appraisal of the talks, the United States has not offered any tariff exemptions or carveouts for either Canada or Ontario as a result of the discussions.

Ford had previously said he would only drop Ontario tariff retaliation measures like the energy surcharge when there were “zero tariffs” on Canadian goods being imported to the United States.

Thursday’s discussions capped off a dramatic week in which Ford finally caught the attention of President Trump with a 25 per cent charge on all electricity sold from his province to New York, Minnesota and …