Donald Trump Raises Import Taxes on Canada's Goods After Reagan Ad

Donald Trump traveling aboard his plane
Donald Trump declared the tariff hike while en route to Asia on the weekend

US President Donald Trump has announced he is raising import taxes on goods imported from Canada after the territory of the Ontario government ran an anti-tariff ad including ex-President Ronald Reagan.

In a Truth Social update on the weekend, Trump labeled the advertisement a "misrepresentation" and condemned Canada's authorities for not taking down it prior to the MLB finals.

"Owing to their significant misrepresentation of the facts, and aggressive move, I am raising the duty on Canada by 10% over and above what they are being charged now," he wrote.

After Trump on last Thursday pulled out of trade negotiations with Canadian officials, the Ontario premier stated he would remove the advertisement.

Ontario's Response

Ontario Leader the Premier announced on last Friday that he would pause his region's anti-tariff commercial series in the United States, telling the media that he made the decision after talks with the Prime Minister the Canadian PM "so that trade negotiations can resume".

He noted it would remain broadcast during the weekend, during contests for the MLB finals, which features the Toronto Blue Jays versus the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Economic Context

The Canadian nation is the only G7 nation country that has not secured a agreement with the America since the President began attempting to impose high import taxes on goods from major trading partners.

The US has previously enforced a thirty-five percent duty on every Canada's goods - though most are excluded under an present free trade agreement. It has also applied industry-specific taxes on Canada's products, including a 50% duty on metals and twenty-five percent on vehicles.

In his update, sent while he was flying to Malaysia, the President indicated he was imposing 10 percentage points to the existing tariffs.

75% of Canada's exports are sold to the America, and the region is home to the majority of Canadian car production.

Reagan Advertisement Particulars

The commercial, which was sponsored by the provincial government, references ex-President Reagan, a Republican and symbol of US conservatism, remarking import taxes "hurt every American".

The commercial takes excerpts from a 1987-era radio speech that focused on global commerce.

The Foundation, which is charged with maintaining the ex-president's heritage, had criticized the advert for using "edited" recordings and claimed it distorted Reagan's 1987 speech. It further noted the provincial government had not requested consent to use it.

Ongoing Tensions

In his post on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump stated that the advertisement should have been pulled down earlier.

"Their Commercial was to be taken down IMMEDIATELY, but they allowed it to air recently during the MLB finals, knowing that it was a DECEPTION," he wrote, while traveling to Asia.

the Premier had earlier pledged to run the Ronald Reagan advert in each GOP-controlled region in the America.

Each of Trump and the PM will be going to the ASEAN in Malaysia, but the President informed reporters accompanying him on Air Force One that he does not have any "plan" of speaking with his Canadian PM during the trip.

In his update, Donald Trump additionally claimed Canadian officials of attempting to affect an future Supreme Court legal case which could terminate his whole import duty program.

The case, to be considered by the highest US court next month, will rule on whether the import taxes are legal.

On Thursday, Trump also lashed out, claiming that the advert was designed to "tamper" with "a crucial lawsuit"

Baseball Championship Connection

The advertisement is not the sole way that the province – home of the Toronto team – is using the World Series as a opportunity to criticize Trump's duties.

In a clip shared on Friday, Doug Ford and Gavin Newsom the Governor humorously agreed on stakes about which club would win the finals.

Each official repeatedly joked about import taxes in the video, with Ford vowing to deliver Gavin Newsom a tin of syrup if the Los Angeles team win.

"The import tax might set me back a higher price at the frontier currently, but it'll be acceptable," he wrote.

In response, Newsom suggested Doug Ford to continue allowing American-produced alcohol to be available in Ontario beverage outlets, and pledged to provide "California's top-quality wine" if the Jays succeed.

They ended their dialogue both saying: "To a great World Series, and a tariff-free relationship between Ontario and the state."

Katherine Mcintosh
Katherine Mcintosh

Elara is a seasoned journalist with over a decade of experience in international reporting and storytelling.