President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened to impose an additional 10% tariff on Canadian imports after an anti-tariff television commercial from Ontario angered him.
The ad, aired during the first two games of the World Series, used a speech by former US President Ronald Reagan to criticize Trump’s trade policies. Trump said the campaign should have been canceled immediately and accused Ontario of spreading misinformation.
“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 while traveling 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 ad would be pulled after the weekend. It remained unclear what specific authority Trump would invoke to implement the new tax, when it would take effect, and which categories of goods it would cover. The White House has yet to comment.
Dominic LeBlanc, Canada’s minister responsible for US trade relations, stressed that negotiations are managed by the federal government, not the provinces. “Progress is best achieved through direct engagement with the U.S. administration,” he said.
Trump halts Canada trade talks after Ontario’s anti-tariff ad
Canada’s economy is already under pressure from US trade restrictions. More than three-quarters of Canadian exports go to the United States, with roughly C$3.6 billion (US$2.7 billion) in goods and services moving across the border daily. Many Canadian products currently face a 35% tariff, while steel and aluminum enter at 50%. Energy shipments are taxed at 10%. Most other trade flows through the U.S.-Canada-Mexico Agreement, which is due for review.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has been working to reduce tariff tensions but has not yet commented on Trump’s latest threat. Spokespersons for both Carney and Ford also declined immediate comment.
Trump and Carney are expected to attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Malaysia. Trump told reporters he has no plans to meet the Canadian leader during the event.
Trump claimed Ontario’s ad distorted Reagan’s positions and suggested it was intended to influence a looming Supreme Court case on the legality of his wide-ranging tariff actions, after lower courts ruled he exceeded his authority.
Source: AP