🔗 Share this article

US President Donald Trump has declared he is increasing import taxes on items shipped from Canada after the region of Ontario broadcast an anti-tariff ad featuring ex-President Ronald Reagan.

In a online update on Saturday, Donald Trump called the commercial a "fraud" and criticized Canada's leaders for not pulling it before the MLB finals.

"Owing to their significant misrepresentation of the truth, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canadian goods by ten percent in addition to what they are paying now," Trump posted.

Following Trump on last Thursday withdrew from trade negotiations with Canada, the Doug Ford said he would pull the advert.

Ontario Response

Ontario Leader Ford announced on last Friday that he would halt his territory's anti-tariff commercial series in the America, telling reporters that he decided after discussions with Prime Minister Carney "to ensure commercial discussions can restart".

He added it would still run over the weekend, featuring matches for the MLB finals, which features the Blue Jays against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Trade Context

The Canadian nation is the sole Group of Seven country that has not achieved a arrangement with the United States since Trump began seeking to charge steep tariffs on items from primary trading partners.

The America has already imposed a thirty-five percent duty on all Canada's products - though the majority are excluded under an existing free trade agreement. It has also applied industry-specific levies on Canadian goods, including a fifty percent duty on metal products and 25 percent on automobiles.

In his post, posted while he was traveling to Malaysia, Trump appeared to state he was imposing 10 percent to these duties.

Seventy-five percent of Canada's exported goods are shipped to the US, and the province is host to the largest share of the nation's car production.

Reagan Ad Particulars

The advertisement, which was paid for by the Ontario authorities, references late President Ronald Reagan, a GOP member and figure of conservative values, saying import taxes "damage American citizens".

The commercial includes segments from a 1987 national radio address that centered on foreign trade.

The Reagan Foundation, which is responsible for maintaining the ex-president's legacy, had condemned the commercial for using "carefully chosen" audio and video and said it misrepresented the former president's address. It further noted the Ontario authorities had not requested authorization to use it.

Continuing Tensions

In his message on social media on the weekend, the President claimed that the commercial should have been taken down sooner.

"The Advertisement was to be removed AT ONCE, but they let it run yesterday during the baseball championship, aware that it was a FRAUD," Trump stated, while traveling to Asia.

Doug Ford had earlier pledged to air the Ronald Reagan advertisement in every Republican area in the US.

Each of Donald Trump and the PM will be participating in the ASEAN in Malaysia, but the President advised journalists traveling with him aboard Air Force One that he does not have any "intention" of speaking with his Canadian counterpart during the trip.

In his post, the President also accused the Canadian government of attempting to manipulate an future Supreme Court legal case which could halt his entire tariff regime.

The lawsuit, to be considered by the American judiciary in the coming weeks, will determine whether the duties are constitutional.

On last Thursday, Donald Trump also condemned, stating that the commercial was intended to "tamper" with "the most significant legal case"

Baseball Championship Connection

The Reagan ad is not the exclusive way that the region – base of the Blue Jays – is using the baseball championship as a stage to condemn Trump's import taxes.

In a video published on last Friday, the Premier and Gavin Newsom the Governor jokingly agreed on stakes about which side would succeed in the finals.

Each official repeatedly joked about tariffs in the video, with Ford pledging to send Newsom a tin of Canadian syrup if the LA Dodgers triumph.

"The import tax might cost me a additional dollars at the crossing nowadays, but it'll be worth it," he wrote.

In answer, the Governor requested Ford to restart permitting US-made beverages to be marketed in province alcohol shops, and pledged to send "California's premium grape drink" if the Jays triumph.

They concluded their dialogue each stating: "To a excellent baseball championship, and a duty-free friendship between the region and CA."