United States President Donald Trump has slammed an extra 10% tariff on Canadian tariffs in retaliation for an anti-tariff ad run in the province of Ontario.
The ad featured words from former President Ronald Reagan, who supported free trade.
This provoked Trump, who made a statement on Truth Social where he said he would end trade talks with Canada following the ad being aired during the first game of the Baseball World Series.
“Their Advertisement was to be taken down, IMMEDIATELY, but they let it run last night during the World Series, knowing that it was a FRAUD,” he posted.
“Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
It isn’t immediately clear which goods will be impacted by the tariff hike.
The majority of Canadian exports to the U.S. are exempt from tariffs due to the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) that was signed during Trump’s first term.
The Trump administration, in August, imposed a 35% tariff on Canadian goods not covered by the USMCA. Canada’s economy has suffered from sector tariffs of 50% imposed this year by Trump on steel and aluminium from all countries.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute also released a statement to X saying that the province did not seek permission to use the former President’s address in its ad.
“The ad misrepresents the Presidential Radio Address, and the Government of Ontario did not seek nor receive permission to use and edit the remarks,” the statement said.
“The Ronald Regan Presidential Foundation and Institute is reviewing its legal options in this matter.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said that the province would suspend the ad campaign after discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney in an effort to reopen trade negotiations.
Both Trump and Carney are set to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit, where the Canadian Prime Minister said he was willing to resume trade talks. Despite this, Trump told reporters on Air Force One he has no plans to meet with Carney.
