US President Donald Trump has imposed higher tariffs on Canadian goods after Ontario aired an anti-tariff advertisement featuring former President Ronald Reagan.
Trump called the advert a “fraud” and accused Canadian officials of refusing to remove it before the World Series baseball championship. “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,” he wrote on social media on Saturday.
US-Canada trade tensions reach new heights
Trump’s decision followed his withdrawal from trade talks with Canada on Thursday, intensifying the dispute between the two countries. Ontario Premier Doug Ford said Friday he would pause the province’s anti-tariff campaign in the US after discussions with Prime Minister Mark Carney “so that trade talks can resume.”
Ford confirmed, however, that the advert would continue to run during the World Series games between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Canada remains the only G7 country without a trade agreement with the US since Trump began imposing steep tariffs on key allies. The US currently levies 35% on Canadian goods, though many items are exempt under a free trade pact. Certain industries face higher rates, including 50% on metals and 25% on automobiles.
While traveling to Asia, Trump said he would increase those tariffs by another ten percentage points. Roughly three-quarters of Canadian exports go to the US, and Ontario is the hub of the country’s automobile industry.
Reagan quote sparks diplomatic backlash
The controversial advert, funded by Ontario’s government, used excerpts from Reagan’s 1987 radio address about foreign trade. The clip quoted Reagan saying tariffs “hurt every American.”
The Ronald Reagan Foundation, which protects the late president’s legacy, criticized the advert for “selective editing” and said it misrepresented his message. The foundation also confirmed that Ontario had not sought permission to use the material.
In another post, Trump said the advert should have been removed immediately. “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 wrote while flying to Malaysia.
Ford had previously vowed to air the Reagan advert in every Republican-led district across the United States.
Trump declines meeting with Canadian leader
Both Trump and Carney are attending the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Malaysia. Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he has no “intention” of meeting with his Canadian counterpart during the trip.
Trump also accused Canada of trying to influence an upcoming US Supreme Court case that could decide whether his tariffs are constitutional. The court will hear the case next month, which Trump called “THE MOST IMPORTANT CASE EVER.”
World Series becomes a stage for tariff humor
Ontario has used the World Series to draw attention to US tariffs in a playful way. In a video released Friday, Ford and California Governor Gavin Newsom joked about the Blue Jays-Dodgers matchup.
They made friendly bets on the winner, with Ford promising to send Newsom a can of maple syrup if the Dodgers win. “The tariff might cost me a few extra bucks at the border these days, but it’ll be worth it,” Ford said.
Newsom responded by asking Ford to allow American-made alcohol back into Ontario’s liquor stores. He pledged to send “California’s championship-worthy wine” if the Blue Jays win.
Both leaders ended their exchange with a cheerful toast: “Here’s to a great World Series, and a tariff-free friendship between Ontario and California.”
