 "Trump slaps 10% additional tariffs on Canada over Reagan ad controversy")
US President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he will increase the American tariffs on Canadian goods by 10 per cent, reiterating his displeasure over an anti-tariff ad sponsored by the Ontario government. The announcement from Trump came just days after he terminated all trade talks with Canada over the same reason.
Trump announced the increase in tariffs in a post on his social media platform TruthSocial. The Trump administration has condemned the Ontario government’s ad that referenced former US President Ronald Reagan’s support for free trade and provoked the US president’s anger. “Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10 per cent over and above what they are paying now,” Trump said Saturday on social media.
He went on to slam the ad, calling it a “fraud” and maintained that the “sole purpose” of it was “Canada’s hope that the United States Supreme Court will come to their ‘rescue’ on Tariffs that they have used for years to hurt the United States”. “Now the United States can defend itself against high and overbearing Canadian Tariffs (and those from the rest of the World as well!),” the president wrote.
Meanwhile, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Friday that the province will suspend the US ad campaign on Monday, following discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. He also pushed for the reopening of trade negotiations.
What was the controversy about
The ad, which was paid for by the government of Ontario, uses excerpts of a 1987 speech in which he said, “trade barriers hurt every American worker”. Trump responded to the ad by terminating trade talks with Canada, accusing th country of “fraudulently used an advertismen t[sic]” which he called “FAKE”.
He went on to claim that Canada is trying to interfere with the US court decisions on the levies. “Based on their egregious behaviour, all trade negotiations with Canada are hereby terminated,” he wrote.
In response to this, Candace Laing, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said: “Tariffs at any level remain a tax on America first, then North American competitiveness as a whole. We hope this threat of escalation can be resolved through diplomatic channels and further negotiation. CUSMA [the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement] means a North America where businesses do better. A successful free trade zone is fundamental for both our economies.”
Impact Shorts
More ShortsMeanwhile, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute, a non-profit organisation that works to advance his legacy and principles, wrote in a post on X that Ontario did not seek or receive permission to use the clips.
In a statement over the matter, the foundation said that the advert used “selective audio and video” and “ misrepresents” Reagan’s comments. It said it was “reviewing its legal options”, which Trump cited in his Truth Social post. It is pertinent to note that in July this year, Trump signed an executive order increasing tariffs on Canadian goods imported to the United States from 25 per cent to 35 per cent.
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