The President of the United States, Donald Trump, said this Saturday (25) that he will impose an additional tariff of 10% on Canada, in response to an advertising campaign that, according to him, misrepresents what former President Ronald Reagan said on the subject. “Canada was caught red-handed placing a fraudulent ad in Ronald Reagan’s tariff speech,” Trump wrote in Truth Social. “Because of their serious misrepresentation of facts and hostile act, I am increasing the tariff on Canada by 10% beyond what they are paying now.”
According to Trump, the advertising campaign uses “selective audio and video” of the former American president, in order to distort a speech on presidential radio, without permission for such editing.
In a statement on Thursday (23), the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute had condemned the distorted use of the former president’s speeches by Ontario. Reagan’s remarks were taken from a 1987 speech in which he urged Congress to avoid protectionist policies against Japan, then the target of tariffs on semiconductors.
While tariffs may seem patriotic, Reagan said at the time, “in the long run, these trade barriers hurt all American workers and consumers,” lead to “fierce trade wars,” and result in job losses.
Trump had already threatened to halt tariff negotiations with Canada on Thursday, after the ad aired. Ontario Premier Doug Ford responded that the campaign would be canceled on Monday (27), but the ad was still broadcast on Friday night (24), during the first game of the World Series, which angered the American leader.
“The sole purpose of this fraud was Canada’s hope that the United States Supreme Court would come to their ‘help’ over the tariffs they have used for years to harm the United States,” the Republican wrote, adding that now the US “is able to defend itself against Canada’s high and arrogant tariffs (and those of the rest of the world too!).”
“Ronald Reagan LOVED tariffs for national security and economic purposes, but Canada said no! His ad should have been taken down, IMMEDIATELY, but they let it run last night during the World Series, knowing it was a FRAUD,” Trump alleged.
In July, the US announced tariffs of 35% on some imports from Canada, and 10% on energy products. About 85% of Canadian exports to the US are tariff-free under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement. The White House did not detail when the new 10% tariff will be applied, nor on which products.
On Friday, before departing for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) summit in Malaysia, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters that he remained open to maintaining negotiations with the US.
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