Trump raises tariffs on Canadian goods by 10% amid ad controversy

US President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he would raise tariffs on Canadian imports by an additional 10 percent, escalating tensions following a dispute over a Canadian advertisement that used quotes from former US President Ronald Reagan.

The move comes two days after Trump declared he was ending trade negotiations with Canada, calling the ad campaign “fake.” Posting on Truth Social while en route to Asia for meetings with regional leaders, Trump said the advertisement was “a hostile act” that misrepresented US-Canada trade relations.

“Their Advertisement was to be taken down, IMMEDIATELY, but they let it run last night during the World Series, knowing that it was a FRAUD,” Trump wrote. “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.”

The ad, produced by the Ontario government, featured selective excerpts from a 1987 radio address by Reagan warning of the dangers of protectionism and high tariffs. It quoted the late president as saying that “high tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars.”

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation criticized the ad on X, accusing Ontario of using “selective audio and video” and saying it was reviewing legal options. Ontario officials said the ad would be pulled on Monday to allow trade discussions to resume.

Trump’s tariffs on key sectors—including steel, aluminum, and automobiles—have already had a significant impact on Canada, leading to job losses and business strain. The two countries remain bound by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which ensures that about 85 percent of bilateral trade remains tariff-free.

In a speech earlier this week, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney warned that the United States had raised tariffs “to levels last seen during the Great Depression” and said Canada would need to rethink its economic strategy. “Our economic strategy needs to change dramatically,” Carney said, adding that the adjustment “will take some sacrifices and some time.”

Both leaders are expected to attend a dinner during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea on Wednesday, though Trump has said he has no plans to meet Carney directly.

The dispute has spilled over into popular culture as well, coinciding with a World Series matchup between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Blue Jays dominated the opening game Friday, defeating the Dodgers 11-4.