U.S. President Donald Trump has announced intentions to increase tariffs on Canadian goods, citing an anti-tariff advertisement aired in Ontario featuring former President Ronald Reagan.
In a social media post on Saturday, President Trump labeled the advertisement a “fraud” and criticized Canadian officials for its continued broadcast leading up to the World Series baseball championship.
“Due to 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 President stated.
This announcement follows President Trump’s withdrawal from trade discussions with Canada on Thursday. In response, the Premier of Ontario stated his intention to remove the advertisement.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford indicated on Friday that the province would pause its anti-tariff campaign in the U.S., citing discussions with Prime Minister Mark Carney “so that trade talks can resume”.
However, Premier Ford also noted that the advertisement would continue to run over the weekend, including during the World Series games featuring the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Canada remains the only G7 nation without a trade agreement with the U.S. since President Trump began imposing tariffs on goods from major trading partners.
The U.S. has already implemented a 35% levy on all Canadian goods, with exemptions under an existing free trade agreement. Sector-specific levies have also been applied, including a 50% levy on metals and 25% on automobiles.
In his post, which was sent while en route to Asia, President Trump appeared to suggest an additional 10 percentage points to these existing tariffs.
Three-quarters of Canadian exports are destined for the U.S., with Ontario serving as the hub for Canada’s automobile manufacturing sector.
The advertisement in question, sponsored by the Ontario government, features a quote from former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, a Republican icon, stating that tariffs “hurt every American”.
The video uses excerpts from a 1987 national radio address focused on foreign trade.
The Ronald Reagan Foundation has criticized the advertisement for its “selective” use of audio and video, claiming it misrepresents President Reagan’s address and was used without permission.
In his post on Truth Social on Saturday, President Trump asserted that the advertisement should have been removed sooner.
“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.
Premier Ford had previously stated his intention to broadcast the Reagan advertisement in every Republican-led district in the U.S.
Both President Trump and Prime Minister Carney are scheduled to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nation summit in Malaysia. However, President Trump told reporters that he has no “intention” of meeting with his Canadian counterpart during the trip.
President Trump also accused Canada of attempting to influence an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case that could potentially dismantle his entire tariff regime.
The case, slated for hearing next month, will determine the constitutionality of the tariffs.
On Thursday, President Trump also criticized the advertisement, asserting it was designed to “interfere” with “THE MOST IMPORTANT CASE EVER.”
The Reagan advertisement is not the only way Ontario – home of the Toronto Blue Jays – is using the World Series as a platform to criticize President Trump’s tariffs.
In a video posted on Friday, Premier Ford and California Governor Gavin Newsom jokingly made bets about which team would win the series.
Both men repeatedly joked about tariffs in the video, with Premier Ford pledging to send Governor Newsom a can of maple syrup if the LA Dodgers win.
“The tariff might cost me a few extra bucks at the border these days, but it’ll be worth it,” he wrote.
In response, Governor Newsom asked Premier Ford to resume allowing American-produced alcohol to be sold in province liquor stores, and pledged to send “California’s championship-worthy wine” if the Blue Jays triumph.
They ended their exchange both declaring: “Here’s to a great World Series, and a tariff-free friendship between Ontario and California.”
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