Donald Trump announced on Saturday an increase of 10% in US tariffs on Canadian goods, citing a provocative advertisement funded by the Ontario government as the catalyst for this decision. The advertisement, which referenced Ronald Reagan’s support for free trade, has reportedly intensified tensions in a significant trade relationship between the US and Canada.
Trump made this announcement via his Truth Social account, following a series of public exchanges regarding the advertisement. He criticized the ad, claiming it misrepresented facts and accused it of having a “sole purpose” of seeking intervention from the US Supreme Court regarding tariffs that he believes have adversely affected the US.
The Ontario government, led by Premier Doug Ford, has stated that it will suspend its US advertising campaign on Monday in an attempt to facilitate the reopening of trade discussions. The advertisement in question aired during the broadcast of the World Series and included excerpts from a 1987 Reagan speech which emphasized the negative impact of trade barriers on American workers.
It remains unclear which specific goods will be affected by the new tariffs, particularly because many Canadian exports are insulated from tariffs under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), established during Trump’s previous term. Earlier this year, the Trump administration imposed a 35% tariff on certain Canadian goods not covered by the USMCA, along with additional 50% tariffs on steel and aluminum imports from various countries.
Canadian business leaders, including Candace Laing from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, expressed concern that tariffs hinder both American and North American competitiveness and urged for resolution through diplomacy and negotiation. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation also criticized the advertisement, stating that it misrepresented Reagan’s original message and was reviewing potential legal actions related to its use. Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney affirmed Canada’s readiness to resume trade negotiations, although reports suggest Trump has no immediate plans to meet with him during the upcoming ASEAN summit in Malaysia.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/25/trump-tariffs-canada-ronald-reagan