🔗 Share this article

US President Donald Trump has stated he is hiking tariffs on products shipped from Canadian sources after the province of the Ontario government aired an anti-tariff commercial using ex-President Ronald Reagan.

In a social media update on the weekend, the President described the advertisement a "misrepresentation" and criticized Canadian authorities for not taking down it prior to the baseball championship.

"Because of their major distortion of the facts, and hostile act, I am raising the duty on Canada by 10% on top of what they are being charged now," he wrote.

After the President on last Thursday withdrew from trade negotiations with Canadian officials, the Ontario premier said he would remove the commercial.

Ontario Response

Ontario Premier Ford said on Friday that he would suspend his region's anti-tariff advertisement campaign in the America, informing journalists that he made the decision after talks with Prime Minister Mark Carney "in order that trade talks can continue".

He also said it would continue to air during the weekend, including games for the World Series, which features the Blue Jays versus the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Trade Background

Canada is the exclusive G7 country that has not secured a deal with the America since the President started trying to charge steep tariffs on products from key commercial allies.

The America has already enforced a thirty-five percent levy on all Canada's items - though the majority are exempt under an current trade deal. It has also slapped sector-specific levies on Canada's goods, featuring a fifty percent duty on metals and 25% on vehicles.

In his update, published while he was flying to Southeast Asia, Trump seemed to say he was imposing an additional 10% to the existing tariffs.

Seventy-five percent of Canadian overseas sales are sold to the US, and the region is the location of the majority of Canadian car production.

Reagan Advertisement Details

The advertisement, which was funded by the provincial government, references late President Reagan, a conservative icon and figure of US conservatism, remarking duties "damage every American".

The commercial includes segments from a 1987-era national radio address that addressed international trade.

The Reagan Foundation, which is tasked with preserving the former president's legacy, had criticised the commercial for using "edited" audio and video and claimed it falsified Reagan's speech. It also said the Ontario authorities had not obtained permission to use it.

Continuing Disputes

In his post on Truth Social on Saturday, the President said that the commercial should have been removed before.

"The Ad was to be pulled IMMEDIATELY, but they allowed it to air last night during the baseball championship, knowing that it was a FRAUD," Trump stated, while en route to Malaysia.

Doug Ford had before promised to air the Ronald Reagan advertisement in every Republican area in the US.

The two Donald Trump and the PM will be attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nation in Southeast Asia, but Donald Trump advised journalists accompanying him on Air Force One that he does not have any "desire" of conferring with his Canadian PM during the journey.

In his post, the President additionally claimed the Canadian government of seeking to influence an upcoming US Supreme Court case which could terminate his complete import duty program.

The legal matter, to be considered by the American judiciary soon, will determine whether the duties are legal.

On Thursday, Donald Trump further condemned, claiming that the commercial was intended to "tamper" with "the most significant legal case"

World Series Link

The Reagan commercial is not the only way that the region – base of the Toronto team – is using the MLB finals as a stage to criticize the President's import taxes.

In a recording shared on Friday, Doug Ford and California Governor the Governor playfully placed wagers about which team would triumph the finals.

The two leaders frequently teased about tariffs in the video, with the Premier promising to send Gavin Newsom a can of maple syrup if the Los Angeles team succeed.

"The tariff might cost me a higher price at the crossing currently, but it'll be acceptable," Ford said.

In response, the Governor asked the Premier to restart permitting American alcohol to be marketed in Ontario beverage outlets, and pledged to send "the state's premium grape drink" if the Toronto team win.

They concluded their dialogue each saying: "Cheers to a great baseball championship, and a tax-free relationship between the province and California."