Washington — U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Saturday that he will impose an additional 10 percent tariff on Canada, on top of the existing rates. His declaration came after expressing strong discontent over a television advertisement aired during the ongoing Baseball World Cup in Ontario.
The controversial ad featured a video of U.S. President Ronald Reagan, in which he warned that “tariff policies can trigger trade wars.” According to Trump, the ad deliberately distorted America’s trade message and misrepresented his policy stance.
Posting on his Truth Social account, Trump wrote
“The advertisement was completely misleading. They intentionally aired it during the main game of the World Cup, portraying our nation’s policy unfairly. Therefore, I have ordered an immediate 10 percent tariff increase on Canada.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford had earlier stated that the ad campaign would be halted starting Monday. However, the commercial was broadcast again during the first game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers, further fueling Trump’s anger, according to reports.
Trade Talks Under Strain
Trade negotiations between the Trump administration and Canada have once again entered a period of uncertainty. The U.S. Department of Commerce and the White House have yet to issue an official statement, while Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday that “the door for dialogue remains open,” according to Reuters.
Trump revealed the tariff decision while aboard Air Force One, en route to Malaysia to attend the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) summit. It remains unclear which specific Canadian goods will be affected by Trump’s new tariff measure.
Most goods traded between the two nations are duty-free under the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA). However, Trump had previously imposed tariffs of up to 35 percent on items not covered by the USMCA.
Economists say the new move could further strain trade relations between Washington and Ottawa. The Ontario ad controversy has also given the dispute a distinctly political tone.
Reagan’s Message and the Wider Reaction
The ad used Reagan’s voice and warning about the negative effects of tariffs on the economy, but analysts claim it was edited out of context. In the original speech, Reagan was referring to temporary tariffs imposed on Japan, describing them as “exceptions to the principles of free trade.”
According to trade analysts, Trump’s latest move appears to be “more of a strategic signal than an economic necessity.”
