President Trump’s aggressive trade policies are fueling a new energy standoff, as Canada considers cutting off key resource exports in retaliation. With U.S. data centers consuming a growing share of the nation’s electricity, any disruption in Canadian energy imports could send costs soaring, forcing cloud giants to rethink their expansion strategies.

The administration’s latest tariffs impose a 25% duty on imports from Canada and Mexico, while Chinese goods face a 10% levy. Although energy imports from Canada received a reduced 10% tariff, labor groups in the country are calling for stronger retaliation. The Canadian Labour Congress, representing major unions, is pushing for restrictions on electricity, oil, and natural gas exports to the U.S.

The U.S. depends on Canadian electricity, importing thousands of gigawatt hours each year. While this accounts for less than 1% of total consumption, several northeastern states—including New York, Vermont, and Maine—rely heavily on this power. Data center operators are particularly vulnerable, as industry reports predict their energy consumption could surge to 12% of total U.S. electricity use by 2028.

Market analysts warn that rising energy costs could hit cloud providers like Microsoft, Google, and Amazon. Argus, an energy intelligence firm, cautioned that the tariffs will drive up prices across multiple sectors, including manufacturing, agriculture, and steel production. However, Goldman Sachs downplayed long-term concerns, suggesting the tariffs on Canada and Mexico might be short-lived.

Trump has urged data center developers to build private power generation facilities, calling the existing U.S. grid “old” and unreliable. While some companies are exploring off-grid solutions, Canada remains America’s top supplier of natural gas, raising doubts about the feasibility of full energy independence.

Despite potential disruptions, some industry experts believe AI-driven cloud infrastructure will absorb short-term price hikes. The high cost of Nvidia-powered AI clusters already outweighs electricity expenses, making operators less sensitive to rate fluctuations.

However, sustainability advocates warn that prolonged trade disputes could undermine clean energy adoption, as U.S. firms rely on Canadian imports to offset domestic fossil fuel use. As tensions escalate, the future of U.S. data centers hangs in the balance, with energy policy now a critical factor in the evolving trade war.