Trump raises tariffs on Canadian goods in response to Reagan advert
US President Donald Trump said he would increase tariffs on goods imported from Canada after the province of Ontario released an anti-tariff ad featuring former President Ronald Reagan.
In a social media post on Saturday, Trump called the ad a “scam” and harshly criticized Canadian officials for not removing it ahead of the World Series baseball championship.
“Due to their serious misrepresentation of facts and hostile behavior, I am increasing the tariff on Canada by 10% above what they currently pay,” he wrote.
After Trump pulled out of trade talks with Canada on Thursday, Ontario’s premier said he would remove the ad.
Canada is the only G7 country that has failed to reach a deal with the United States since Trump began imposing high tariffs on goods from major trading partners.
The U.S. currently imposes a 35 percent tariff on all Canadian goods, but most are exempt under the current free trade agreement. It also imposed sector-specific taxes on Canadian goods, including a 50% tax on metals and a 25% tax on automobiles.
Trump appeared to say he would add 10 percentage points to those taxes in a post he sent during his trip to Asia.
Three-quarters of Canadian exports are sold to the United States, and Ontario is home to the bulk of Canada’s auto production.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Friday that his province will pause its anti-tariff advertising campaign in the United States.
He told journalists that he made the decision after discussions with Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday, adding that the TV spot will be paused on Monday “so that trade talks can resume”. He also said it will continue through the weekend, including the Toronto Blue Jays’ World Series games against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The ad, sponsored by the Ontario government, quotes former US President Ronald Reagan, a Republican and symbol of US conservatism, as saying the tariffs “hurt every American.”
The video quotes excerpts from a 1987 national radio address focusing on foreign trade.
The Ronald Reagan Foundation, which is charged with preserving the former president’s legacy, criticized the ad for its “selective” use of audio and video and said the ad misrepresented Reagan’s address. He also said the Ontario government has not sought permission to use it.
In his post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump said the ad should have been removed sooner.
“Their ad should have been removed IMMEDIATELY, but they allowed it to run last night during the World Series knowing it was a FRAUD,” he wrote as he flew to Malaysia.
“Due to their serious misrepresentation of facts and hostile behavior, I am increasing the Tariff to Canada by 10% above what they are currently paying. Thank you for your interest in this matter!”
