President Donald Trump has warned he will raise tariffs on Canada by a further 10% after a television commercial from Ontario attacking his trade policies provoked an angry response.
The advertisement, which aired during the opening games of the World Series, featured remarks by Ronald Reagan while criticising Trump’s approach to tariffs. Trump argued the spot should not have been broadcast and accused the province of misleading the public, reports UNB/AP.
“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 on Truth Social as he travelled to Malaysia. “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.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the commercial would be removed after the weekend. The legal mechanism Trump might rely on to impose higher tariffs including which sectors would be targeted or when the move would start was left unspecified. The White House has not yet issued a statement.
Dominic LeBlanc, the Canadian minister overseeing ties with Washington, emphasised that trade negotiations fall under federal jurisdiction. “Progress is best achieved through direct engagement with the US administration,” he said.
Canada’s export-driven economy is already coping with extensive U.S. restrictions. Roughly 75% of its foreign shipments go south of the border, with approximately C$3.6 billion (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services exchanged every day.
A significant portion of items currently face 35 percent duties, steel and aluminium encounter 50% tariffs and energy is taxed at 10 percent. Many other products move under the US-Canada-Mexico Agreement, which is due for review.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has tried to ease tensions over tariffs but has not commented on Trump’s remarks. Officials for Carney and Ford also did not provide immediate responses.
Trump and Carney are due in Malaysia for the ASEAN summit, though Trump told reporters he does not intend to meet the Canadian leader there.
Trump argued that the Ontario advertisement twisted Reagan’s views and implied it was aimed at influencing a forthcoming Supreme Court review of his broad tariff powers, after lower courts concluded he went beyond his authority.
