Donald Trump Imposes 10% Additional Tariff on Canada After Anti-Tariff Advertisement

US President Donald Trump has halted the ongoing trade deal with Canada, citing an anti-tariff advertisement as the reason. Trump described the ad on social media as "fake" and "very bad". The US government has imposed a 35% tax on Canadian imports, particularly targeting industries like car manufacturing and steel production.

The Ontario government’s advertisement included a speech by former US President Ronald Reagan, which the Reagan Foundation later criticized. The Foundation stated that the speech was used without permission and presented in a misleading way.

Trump became so angered by the ad that he called off the trade talks with Canada altogether. He wrote on Truth Social that the advertisement was “fake” and “very bad,” adding, “Trade negotiations end here.” His administration implemented a 35% import tax from Canada and imposed specific tariffs aimed at various industrial sectors, heavily affecting Ontario’s economy.

Trump said he canceled the talks in response to a recent ad released by the Ontario government, which featured audio from Ronald Reagan’s 1987 speech criticizing tariffs on foreign goods. According to Trump, “The Ronald Reagan Foundation just announced that Canada deceitfully used a fake ad where Reagan speaks negatively about tariffs. It was interference in Supreme Court and other judicial decisions.” He further justified the tariffs as vital for America’s economy and national security.

In the 1987 speech, Reagan had strongly criticized tariffs, saying they “hurt every American worker and consumer” and could “ignite a terrible trade war.” After the ad aired, the Reagan Foundation asserted that the clip misrepresented Reagan’s views and was used without authorization. Although the ad edited parts of Reagan’s speech, the full five-minute version, published by the Reagan Library on YouTube, clearly supports the idea of free and fair trade.