President Trump Hikes Duties on Canada's Goods After Ronald Reagan Ad
President Donald Trump has declared he is raising import taxes on products brought in from Canada after the province of the Ontario government aired an anti-tariff commercial including late President Ronald Reagan.
In a Truth Social message on Saturday, Trump labeled the commercial a "fraud" and criticized Canada's authorities for not taking down it before the World Series.
"Because of their significant distortion of the reality, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10 percent over and above what they are being charged now," he stated.
Following Trump on last Thursday pulled out of trade negotiations with Canadian officials, the Ontario premier said he would pull the commercial.
The Province Response
Doug Ford Doug Ford declared on Friday that he would pause his region's anti-import tax ad campaign in the United States, telling the media that he made the decision after consultations with PM Carney "to ensure trade negotiations can resume".
He added it would still run on Saturday and Sunday, during contests for the MLB finals, which involves the Toronto Blue Jays versus the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Trade Context
Canada is the sole Group of Seven state that has not secured a agreement with the America since the President began trying to charge significant import taxes on items from primary commercial allies.
The United States has already imposed a 35 percent duty on each Canadian products - though most are free under an existing free trade agreement. It has also imposed sector-specific taxes on Canada's goods, such as a 50% levy on steel and aluminum and twenty-five percent on automobiles.
In his update, posted while he was traveling to Southeast Asia, the President seemed to say he was adding an additional 10% to the existing tariffs.
Three-quarters of Canadian overseas sales are sent to the US, and the region is home to the bulk of the nation's car production.
Ronald Reagan Ad Details
The commercial, which was sponsored by the Ontario authorities, quotes former US President Reagan, a GOP member and figure of conservative values, stating duties "harm American citizens".
The commercial uses clips from a 1987 national radio address that addressed foreign trade.
The Ronald Reagan Foundation, which is responsible for maintaining the late president's heritage, had criticised the commercial for using "edited" recordings and said it distorted Reagan's address. It also said the provincial government had not obtained consent to use it.
Continuing Disputes
In his update on Truth Social on Saturday, the President claimed that the advert should have been pulled down before.
"Their Commercial was to be taken down RIGHT AWAY, but they kept it broadcasting recently during the baseball championship, aware that it was a LIE," Trump stated, while en route to Southeast Asia.
Ford had previously vowed to broadcast the Reagan advert in all GOP-controlled district in the US.
The two Trump and Mark Carney will be going to the Association of Southeast Asian Nation in the Malaysian nation, but Donald Trump told the media accompanying him on the presidential plane that he does not have any "plan" of meeting with his Canada's leader during the trip.
In his post, the President also alleged Canada of attempting to influence an future US Supreme Court case which could terminate his whole import duty program.
The lawsuit, to be reviewed by the American judiciary in the coming weeks, will rule on whether the duties are lawful.
On last Thursday, the President further lashed out, stating that the advert was intended to "meddle" with "THE MOST IMPORTANT CASE EVER"
MLB Finals Connection
The Reagan ad is not the exclusive way that the region – base of the Toronto team – is using the World Series as a opportunity to criticize Trump's duties.
In a recording shared on Friday, the Premier and Gavin Newsom Gavin Newsom jokingly made bets about which side would win the championship.
The two leaders repeatedly teased about tariffs in the clip, with the Premier pledging to send the Governor a tin of maple syrup if the Los Angeles team win.
"The tariff might cost me a higher price at the border currently, but it'll be justified," he stated.
In response, Newsom requested the Premier to continue allowing American beverages to be marketed in regional beverage outlets, and promised to deliver "our championship-worthy vino" if the Jays win.
They ended their conversation together declaring: "Here's to a great MLB finals, and a tax-free relationship between the region and California."