Trump Warns of Additional Tariffs on Canada After Anti-Tariff Ad Airs
President Donald Trump announced Saturday that he intends to raise tariffs on Canadian imports by another 10%, citing frustrations over a television commercial from the province of Ontario that criticized U.S. trade policies.
The ad, which featured remarks from former President Ronald Reagan opposing tariffs, aired Friday night during the first game of the World Series. Trump argued that the spot misrepresented facts and defied his demand that it be removed immediately. Ontario Premier Doug Ford had signaled the ad would be pulled after the weekend, but it still aired, prompting Trump’s threat to escalate trade penalties.
In a message posted on his Truth Social account while traveling aboard Air Force One to Malaysia, Trump called the commercial “a FRAUD” and a “hostile act,” saying that Canada would face an additional 10% import tax on top of current duties as a result.
The administration did not provide clarification on when the new tariffs would take effect or whether they would apply to all categories of Canadian exports. It also remains unclear what authority the White House would rely on to implement the increase.
Canada has already sustained significant economic strain from the trade measures Trump has enforced. Roughly 75% of the country’s exports go to the United States, amounting to about $2.7 billion in goods and services crossing the border every day. Some Canadian products currently face tariffs of 35%, while steel and aluminum are taxed at 50%. Energy exports are subject to a lower 10% rate, and most other goods are protected from tariffs under the U.S.-Canada-Mexico Agreement — though that agreement is due for review and Trump has expressed dissatisfaction with it.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has been attempting to ease trade tensions, but his office did not comment immediately on Trump’s latest announcement.
Both leaders are scheduled to attend the ASEAN summit in Malaysia, but Trump said he has no plans to meet with Carney at the event.
Trump argued that Ontario’s ad wrongly invoked Reagan, a Republican icon. While Reagan’s own 1987 speech featured in the commercial indeed warned against tariff policies, Trump insisted the ad intentionally misled U.S. viewers.
He also accused Canadian officials of trying to sway the U.S. Supreme Court, which will soon hear a case examining whether Trump has the authority to impose broad tariffs — a central component of his trade strategy. Lower courts have previously ruled that he exceeded his powers.