🔗 Share this article

President Donald Trump has stated he is hiking import taxes on products imported from Canada after the province of Ontario ran an anti-tariff ad featuring ex-President Reagan.

In a Truth Social message on Saturday, Trump labeled the advertisement a "fraud" and condemned Canadian officials for not taking down it prior to the baseball championship.

"Due to their major falsification of the facts, and unfriendly action, I am increasing the import tax on Canada by 10 percent on top of what they are paying now," he wrote.

Following the President on Thursday ended trade talks with Canada, the Ontario's leader stated he would remove the advertisement.

Ontario's Reaction

Ontario Premier Ford declared on last Friday that he would pause his province's anti-tariff ad campaign in the US, telling journalists that he made the decision after talks with Prime Minister Carney "to ensure trade talks can restart".

He noted it would continue to air over the weekend, during games for the MLB finals, which involves the Toronto team facing the Dodgers.

Trade Situation

Canada is the exclusive G7 state that has not secured a agreement with the US since the President began attempting to impose significant import taxes on items from key trading partners.

The US has already enforced a 35% levy on every Canada's items - though the majority are exempt under an existing trade deal. It has furthermore slapped sector-specific taxes on Canadian goods, such as a 50 percent levy on metal products and 25% on cars.

In his message, published while he was traveling to Asia, the President seemed to say he was imposing 10 percent to the existing tariffs.

Three-quarters of Canadian overseas sales are shipped to the US, and the province is the location of the bulk of the nation's car production.

Ronald Reagan Commercial Details

The advert, which was sponsored by the Ontario authorities, cites ex-President Ronald Reagan, a GOP member and icon of American conservatism, remarking tariffs "harm all Americans".

The commercial includes segments from a 1987 radio speech that centered on global commerce.

The Ronald Reagan Foundation, which is charged with maintaining the former president's legacy, had criticised the advert for using "selective" audio and video and said it misrepresented Reagan's remarks. It additionally stated the Ontario government had not sought permission to use it.

Current Tensions

In his post on Truth Social on the weekend, Trump said that the advert should have been removed before.

"Ontario's Commercial was to be removed AT ONCE, but they let it run yesterday during the MLB finals, realizing that it was a DECEPTION," he wrote, while traveling to Asia.

Doug Ford had earlier pledged to run the Reagan advert in every Republican district in the US.

Each of Trump and Carney will be going to the ASEAN in the Malaysian nation, but Trump advised the media accompanying him on his aircraft that he does not have any "plan" of meeting with his Canada's leader during the journey.

In his update, the President also claimed Canada of attempting to affect an upcoming American high court lawsuit which could terminate his entire import duty program.

The legal matter, to be heard by the American judiciary soon, will determine whether the tariffs are lawful.

On Thursday, Donald Trump additionally criticized, stating that the advertisement was designed to "meddle" with "a crucial lawsuit"

World Series Association

The Reagan ad is not the sole way that Ontario – base of the Toronto Blue Jays – is using the baseball championship as a platform to criticize the President's import taxes.

In a video shared on last Friday, Doug Ford and Governor Newsom jokingly placed wagers about which team would succeed in the finals.

Both men consistently bantered about duties in the recording, with Doug Ford vowing to send Gavin Newsom a can of Canadian syrup if the Los Angeles team succeed.

"The tariff might set me back a higher price at the border currently, but it'll be justified," Ford said.

In reply, Governor Newsom suggested Doug Ford to restart allowing American drinks to be marketed in province liquor stores, and vowed to deliver "the state's premium grape drink" if the Jays triumph.

They finished their exchange together declaring: "Here's to a fantastic baseball championship, and a duty-free friendship between the province and the state."