US President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order directing the US government to rename Lake Ontario “Lake America,” escalating an increasingly bitter dispute with Canada. The change is set to take effect immediately.
Trump had threatened Lake Ontario name change
because Washington did not expect to be doing much business with Ontario. His proposal came as trade negotiations between the US and Canada broke down.
The move follows , which similarly directed US federal agencies to use the new name. The latest order applies to US government usage, meaning it does not automatically compel Canada or international organisations to adopt “Lake America.”
Lake Ontario straddles the US-Canada border, with New York State on its southern shore and Canada’s Ontario province to the north. Its shared status makes any unilateral US renaming largely a matter of how American government agencies refer to the lake.
Name change comes amid escalating trade tensions
Trump’s decision comes as the US and Canada remain locked in a major trade dispute.
after , and in response.
, with the measures set to take effect on September 8. The duties target hundreds of products and match Washington’s latest tariffs dollar-for-dollar.
, beginning January 1, 2027, further raising tensions between the two neighbours.
