President Donald Trump stated on Saturday that the United States would increase tariffs on goods imported from Canada by an additional 10%. This announcement followed the airing of an anti-tariff advertisement by the Canadian province of Ontario, which featured former U.S. President Ronald Reagan. Trump described the advert as a "fraud" and a "hostile act." Ontario Premier Doug Ford had previously announced a pause in the campaign, though some airings were planned to continue over the weekend.
Tariff Increase Announcement
On Saturday, US President Donald Trump announced an increase in tariffs on goods imported from Canada. In a social media post, Trump stated that the tariffs would rise by 10% above existing rates. He characterized an advertisement aired by the Canadian province of Ontario, which featured former President Ronald Reagan, as a "fraud" and a "hostile act," citing "serious misrepresentation of the facts." The announcement was made while Trump was traveling to Asia.
Ontario's Advertisement Campaign
The advertisement, sponsored by the Ontario government, quoted former US President Ronald Reagan, a Republican and figure associated with US conservatism, saying tariffs "hurt every American." The video used excerpts from a 1987 national radio address focusing on foreign trade.
Following Trump's withdrawal from trade talks with Canada on Thursday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford stated on Friday that the province would pause its anti-tariff advertisement campaign in the US. Ford indicated the decision was made after discussions with Prime Minister Mark Carney to facilitate the resumption of trade talks. He also noted that the advert would still run over the weekend, including during World Series games featuring the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers.
Existing Tariffs and Trade Context
Canada is the only G7 country that has not yet reached a trade agreement with the US since the Trump administration initiated efforts to impose tariffs on goods from major trading partners. The US has already applied a 35% levy on all Canadian goods, with most being exempt under an existing free trade agreement. Additionally, sector-specific levies have been imposed on Canadian goods, including a 50% levy on metals and 25% on automobiles. Trump's recent statement suggested an addition of 10 percentage points to these existing taxes.
Approximately three-quarters of Canadian exports are sold to the US. Ontario is a significant center for Canada's automobile manufacturing industry.