"Changing Names Now": Trump Crosses the Line, Met with Counter-Threat to "Cut Off Electricity" in Unprecedented Clash

1. "Naming Change" Executive Order Executed Amid Trade Tensions

U.S. President Donald Trump officially signed an executive order on the afternoon of August 27 local time in the Oval Office to immediately change the name of Lake Ontario, one of the Great Lakes bordering Canada, to "Lake America." According to the Financial Times (FT) and Reuters, President Trump displayed a map placard bearing the name "Lake America" behind the Resolute Desk and stated that all necessary paperwork had been submitted and it would take effect immediately.

The executive order took effect immediately, and the U.S. Secretary of the Interior is set to go through the procedures to change the relevant geographic name within 30 days in consultation with the Board on Geographic Names. Afterward, the name "Lake America" will be used on maps, official documents, and geographic information systems of U.S. federal agencies.

However, Lake Ontario is international waters shared by the United States and Canada. The U.S. government's action has no legal force to alter the names of waters under Canadian jurisdiction or internationally accepted geographic names. The Canadian government, other nations, and international organizations are under no obligation to adopt the new name.

2. USD 20 billion Tariff Bomb and Full-Scale Trade War

This move comes as U.S.-Canada trade negotiations have broken down and tariff conflicts between the two nations have intensified. Last week, after the U.S. abruptly imposed a 50% tariff on approximately USD 20 billion (approx. 27 trillion won) worth of Canadian goods, Canada also announced up to 50% retaliatory tariffs, plunging the two into an all-out war. President Trump claimed that "Canada has long cheated us in trade, levying tariffs of up to 400% on U.S. agricultural products." Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has strongly pushed back, stating that "Canada is currently in a trade war."

Canada's measures are scheduled to take effect on September 8. While existing 25% tariffs on certain steel and aluminum items will be raised to 50%, a uniform 50% rate will not apply to all targeted goods.

President Trump claimed that Canada has historically imposed excessively high tariffs on U.S. agricultural products. However, because Canada's high dairy tariffs apply only to volumes exceeding certain import quotas, the "400% tariff" mentioned by Trump should not be taken as the general tax rate for Canadian agricultural tariffs overall.

If the tariff conflict between the two countries drags on, it will increase costs and uncertainties in cross-border North American supply chains spanning automobiles, steel, and energy, and is likely to impact South Korean companies with production facilities in Canada and the United States.

3. Canada Responds: "Lake Ontario Remains Lake Ontario"

This is not President Trump's first executive action to change geographic names. Shortly after taking office last year, he signed an executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the "Gulf of America," which some platforms within the U.S., such as Google Maps, display to American users.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney countered that the name Lake Ontario predates the Canadian federation and the U.S. Declaration of Independence, emphasizing, "It was, is, and always will be Lake Ontario."

The name Ontario originates from the Indigenous Wendat word "Ontarí'io." While interpretations vary slightly by source as "beautiful lake" or "great lake," it is clear that it is an Indigenous-derived geographic name used for over 400 years.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford also warned that if tensions with the U.S. worsen, the province could reduce or halt the electricity it supplies to New York, Michigan, and Minnesota. He argued that Canada should also consider export restrictions on strategic resources such as oil and potash.

About 52% of the surface area of Lake Ontario falls under Canadian jurisdiction, with the remainder belonging to New York State, U.S. Therefore, this move is better viewed as a political and symbolic action intended to pressure Canada amid trade frictions rather than a decision that alters actual territory or jurisdiction.


Deep Dive Q&A
Q1. If the U.S. changes the name of Lake Ontario, do other countries like Canada or South Korea also have to call it "Lake America"?

A: No. This executive order has legal effect only on maps and official documents of U.S. federal agencies (such as the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Geological Survey). The Canadian government, international organizations, and overseas media and mapmakers—including those in South Korea—have absolutely no legal obligation to follow it.

Q2. Why are "halting potash exports" and "cutting off electricity supplies" being mentioned in the trade conflict?

A: Ontario, Canada, is a key energy source supplying electricity to more than a dozen U.S. states, and Canadian potash is an essential fertilizer raw material for U.S. agriculture. If Canada halts these supplies, it could deliver a crippling blow to the U.S. Midwest Farm Belt and energy grid, making them potent retaliatory cards.
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.