Washington, D.C. – U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he is increasing tariffs on Canadian goods by an additional 10%, escalating tensions following an anti-tariff advertisement aired by the Canadian province of Ontario that featured the late U.S. President Ronald Reagan.
The decision comes just two days after Trump declared he had terminated all trade discussions with Canada, calling the campaign “fake” and “fraudulent.”
“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,” Trump posted on Truth Social while en route to Asia for high-level meetings.
“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.”
The controversial ad used excerpts from Reagan’s 1987 radio address warning about the dangers of high tariffs and potential trade wars. The quote used in the ad matches the official transcript from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.
However, the Ronald Reagan Foundation criticized the ad on social media, accusing the Ontario government of using “selective audio and video” and stated it was reviewing its legal options. In response, Ontario officials confirmed the ad would be pulled on Monday to pave the way for potential trade discussions to resume.
Trump’s tariffs—particularly on steel, aluminum, and automobiles—have hit Canada’s industries hard, leading to job losses and mounting pressure on businesses.
Despite the tension, the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) still ensures that about 85% of trade between the two nations remains tariff-free.
In a recent speech, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney criticized the U.S. for raising tariffs “to levels last seen during the Great Depression,” calling for a dramatic shift in Canada’s economic strategy.
Both leaders are expected to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea this week, though Trump has stated he has “no plans” to meet with Carney.
Adding a touch of irony to the situation, this diplomatic feud unfolds as baseball’s World Series features the Toronto Blue Jays against the Los Angeles Dodgers, with the Blue Jays dominating the first game 11–4.