Trump Hits Canada With New 10% Tariff Over ‘Hostile’ Reagan Ad
US President Donald Trump has abruptly imposed an additional 10 per cent tariff on Canadian imports, dramatically escalating a trade dispute triggered by a television advertisement that he deemed a “hostile act.” In a fiery post on Truth Social, Trump announced the punitive measure after the government of Ontario aired a controversial ad during the World Series featuring the voice of former US President Ronald Reagan denouncing tariffs.”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,” Trump wrote, signaling a severe downturn in relations with one of America’s closest allies.
The White House has reportedly suspended all ongoing US-Canada trade talks following the announcement, plunging future negotiations into uncertainty.The flashpoint was a $75 million ad campaign by the Ontario government that used audio from a 1987 speech by Ronald Reagan warning against trade wars. Trump interpreted the ad as a “fraudulent” and direct attack on his administration’s protectionist policies.
In response to the backlash, Ontario Premier Doug Ford confirmed the advertisement would be withdrawn after the weekend but defended its intent. “The intention was never to attack, but to encourage cooperation,” Ford said, framing the ad as a call for “fair trade and open markets.”Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reacted cautiously, stressing a commitment to diplomacy. “We prefer negotiation and diplomacy over escalation,” Carney stated, urging the United States to maintain “mutual respect” in trade matters.
The ad also drew censure from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation, which criticized the Ontario government for using the excerpts without permission and taking the former president’s words out of context. American business groups have warned that the new tariffs will inevitably lead to higher consumer prices and disrupt critical cross-border supply chains.
