🔗 Share this article

US President Trump has stated he is raising import taxes on goods brought in from Canadian sources after the territory of Ontario ran an anti-import tax ad using former President Ronald Reagan.

In a social media post on the weekend, the President described the commercial a "deception" and condemned Canadian leaders for not taking down it ahead of the World Series.

"Because of their significant misrepresentation of the truth, and aggressive move, I am increasing the duty on Canadian goods by 10 percent in addition to what they are currently paying now," he wrote.

After Trump on Thursday ended commercial discussions with Canadian officials, the Ontario's leader stated he would remove the advert.

Ontario's Response

Ontario Premier Doug Ford declared on last Friday that he would pause his territory's anti-import tax ad campaign in the United States, advising reporters that he chose after talks with Prime Minister Carney "to ensure trade negotiations can restart".

He noted it would still run on Saturday and Sunday, featuring matches for the baseball championship, which features the Toronto Blue Jays versus the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Trade Situation

The Canadian nation is the sole Group of Seven state that has not reached a agreement with the US since the President started seeking to levy steep tariffs on items from key trade partners.

The America has already imposed a 35% levy on each Canada's goods - though many are free under an current commercial pact. It has furthermore imposed industry-specific levies on Canada's goods, including a 50 percent levy on steel and aluminum and 25% on automobiles.

In his update, sent while he was en route to Malaysia, Donald Trump indicated he was adding an additional 10% to these duties.

75% of Canadian overseas sales are shipped to the US, and Ontario is host to the largest share of Canada's car production.

Reagan Advertisement Details

The advert, which was sponsored by the provincial government, quotes former US President Ronald Reagan, a conservative icon and symbol of American conservatism, stating tariffs "hurt all Americans".

The video takes excerpts from a 1987-era broadcast that centered on foreign trade.

The Reagan Foundation, which is tasked with preserving the former president's memory, had criticised the advertisement for using "carefully chosen" sound and footage and claimed it distorted Reagan's speech. It also said the provincial government had not requested authorization to use it.

Current Tensions

In his message on Truth Social on Saturday, Trump stated that the commercial should have been taken down earlier.

"The Advertisement was to be taken down RIGHT AWAY, but they let it run yesterday during the MLB finals, realizing that it was a DECEPTION," he posted, while traveling to Malaysia.

Doug Ford had before pledged to broadcast the Ronald Reagan advertisement in every Republican-led area in the United States.

Each of Trump and Mark Carney will be participating in the Association of Southeast Asian Nation in Southeast Asia, but Trump told journalists joining him on Air Force One that he does not have any "intention" of meeting with his Canada's leader during the visit.

In his post, the President additionally claimed Canada of seeking to affect an upcoming American high court legal case which could terminate his whole tariff regime.

The case, to be considered by the American judiciary next month, will rule on whether the tariffs are constitutional.

On last Thursday, Trump further condemned, saying that the commercial was designed to "meddle" with "the most significant legal case"

World Series Association

The Reagan ad is not the only way that the province – location of the Toronto team – is using the baseball championship as a opportunity to criticise Donald Trump's tariffs.

In a video shared on Friday, the Premier and California Governor Gavin Newsom humorously placed wagers about which club would succeed in the series.

Both men repeatedly teased about import taxes in the recording, with the Premier promising to provide the Governor a tin of maple syrup if the Dodgers succeed.

"The import tax might cost me a few extra bucks at the crossing currently, but it'll be justified," Ford said.

In reply, Governor Newsom requested Ford to restart enabling US-made drinks to be available in Ontario beverage outlets, and vowed to send "California's top-quality grape drink" if the Blue Jays win.

They concluded their conversation together declaring: "Cheers to a excellent MLB finals, and a tariff-free relationship between the region and California."