The confrontation has also taken a political turn, with criticism of Trump's remarks about a possible annexation of Canada to the United States, a comment that has sparked outrage among the Canadian public.

President Donald Trump escalated his burgeoning trade war with Canada, declaring that he’ll double the steel and aluminum tariffs set to take effect tomorrow to 50 percent. Doug Ford gets under Trump’s skin: The president said the higher levies were payback for the Ontario premier’s own retaliatory move yesterday to add a 25 percent surcharge to electricity exports to three U.