Quick Read
- President Trump announced an additional 10% tariff on Canadian goods amid a dispute over a Reagan speech ad.
- The ad, funded by Ontario, used edited audio from a 1987 Ronald Reagan speech criticizing tariffs.
- Trump called the ad “fraudulent” and suspended ongoing trade talks with Canada.
- The Reagan Foundation said the ad selectively rearranged the former president’s words.
- Canada expressed disappointment but said it remains ready for constructive dialogue.
Trump Escalates Feud with Canada After Reagan Ad Sparks Outrage
President Donald Trump on Saturday intensified his feud with Canada after an Ontario-sponsored television ad used edited audio from a 1987 Ronald Reagan address denouncing tariffs. In response, Trump announced a 10% increase in tariffs on Canadian goods, calling the ad “fraudulent” and a “hostile act.”
The president had already halted months of trade talks with Canada — America’s second-largest trading partner — earlier this week. Although the ad featured Reagan’s actual voice, it rearranged his remarks, prompting criticism from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, which accused the ad’s producers of “selective editing.”
The Ad That Triggered the Tariff
The controversial ad aired during the World Series games between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers, and it quickly caught Trump’s attention. The video showed Reagan’s anti-tariff message reassembled to suggest he was condemning modern U.S. policy. Ontario officials defended the clip, insisting it remained true to Reagan’s original message.
However, following Trump’s outrage, Ontario confirmed it would pull the ad from circulation on Monday. Despite that decision, Trump took to social media, accusing Canada of attempting to “influence the U.S. Supreme Court” on ongoing tariff-related cases.
“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,” Trump posted on Saturday.
He provided no details on which goods would be affected.
Canada’s Response
Canadian Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said Canada remains open to discussions, emphasizing recent progress in talks before the suspension. “We’re ready to build on the constructive engagement we’ve had,” he said.
Prime Minister Mark Carney, who was traveling to Malaysia for the ASEAN summit, declined to comment directly on the ad controversy. “We stand ready to resume discussions when the Americans are ready,” he said, stressing the need to separate controllable issues from those “beyond Canada’s reach.”
Economic Impact and Reactions
Trade tensions between the two countries have already hurt Canada’s economy, particularly Ontario, where manufacturing depends heavily on U.S. imports and exports. Trump’s administration has previously imposed steep tariffs on steel (50%), aluminum (50%), and auto parts (25%), along with additional levies on softwood lumber (10%).
Industry experts criticized the new escalation. Flavio Volpe, president of Canada’s Automotive Parts Manufacturers’ Association, said,
“This is an unprovoked and unnecessary escalation. The president’s reaction to a harmless World Series ad could end up costing American taxpayers billions.”
A Strained Relationship
While Trump and Carney have maintained relatively cordial personal relations, their governments continue to clash over trade. Analysts say the Reagan ad dispute underscores how fragile North American trade relations remain despite the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA).
As both leaders head to Malaysia for the ASEAN summit, the diplomatic chill between Washington and Ottawa shows little sign of thawing — especially as Trump vows to make Canada “pay a price” for what he calls “dishonest propaganda.”
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