President Donald Trump said Saturday he will raise tariffs on Canadian imports by an additional 10%, responding to a province-funded television ad from Ontario that used Ronald Reagan’s words to attack U.S. tariffs. The ad aired Friday night during the first game of the World Series, despite Trump’s demand that it be pulled “IMMEDIATELY.” It will be removed after the weekend, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said. Timing is everything, apparently.
In a post on Truth Social while flying to Malaysia, Trump blasted the spot as a “FRAUD” that misrepresented the facts and Reagan’s position: “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.” Translation: play political games, get real-world consequences. That’s how leverage works.
It’s not yet clear when the hike will take effect or whether it will cover all Canadian goods. What is clear: Canada’s economy has been hit hard by Trump’s tariffs, and Prime Minister Mark Carney has been trying to coax them lower. With over three-quarters of Canadian exports headed to the U.S. and roughly $2.7 billion in goods and services crossing the border daily, Ottawa has every incentive to get serious at the table—ad slogans aside.
Right now, many Canadian products face a 35% tariff, while steel and aluminum sit at 50%. Energy products are at 10%, and items covered by the U.S.-Canada-Mexico Agreement remain exempt. That trade pact—negotiated by Trump in his first term—is slated for review, and the President has since soured on it. In other words, the paperwork can change if the math doesn’t add up for American workers.
Both Trump and Carney will attend the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, but Trump says he has no intention of meeting the Canadian leader. Can’t imagine why—aside from the small matter of a publicly funded ad trying to score points with Reagan quotes while Reagan’s 1987 address actually warned against tariffs. Nice try. Misusing a conservative icon to undercut a conservative trade policy? Bold move.
Trump also noted the ad looked like an attempt to influence the U.S. Supreme Court, which hears arguments next month that could determine whether he has the authority to impose sweeping tariffs—a cornerstone of his economic strategy. If foreign politicians think they can lobby America’s judiciary via TV spots, they might want to review both the Constitution and basic civics.
Bottom line: Ontario lit the match, and the White House brought the fire extinguisher labeled “10% Tariff Increase.” America sets its terms; if others don’t like the rules, they can always choose the winning strategy—fair trade, honest ads, and real negotiations. Good news: there’s still time for Canada to take yes for an answer and get a better deal for both sides.
