Trump Imposes Additional 10% Tariffs on Canada Amid Advertising Dispute
The US President accuses Canada of airing a misleading advertisement using Ronald Reagan’s anti tariff speech, escalating tensions and halting trade talks between the two nations.
Washington, Oct 26: US President Donald Trump has announced an additional 10 per cent tariff on Canadian imports, accusing Canada of running a “fraudulent advertisement” that misused a speech by former US President Ronald Reagan to criticise tariffs.
In a post on his Truth Social account late Saturday, Trump said the controversial ad aired during the World Series despite orders for its removal. “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. Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10 per cent over and above what they are paying now,” he wrote.
The President also accused Canada of trying to influence the US Supreme Court, which is currently reviewing legal challenges to his earlier tariff policies. “The sole purpose of this FRAUD was Canada’s hope that the United States Supreme Court will come to their rescue on tariffs that they have used for years to hurt the United States,” Trump alleged.
The move has further strained trade relations between the two countries, which had already seen setbacks earlier this week after Trump abruptly ended all trade negotiations with Ottawa over the same ad controversy. The advertisement, produced by Ontario’s provincial government, featured archival footage of former President Ronald Reagan criticising tariffs footage Trump claimed was “fake.”
Following Trump’s objections, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he would pause the ad from Monday to allow trade talks to potentially resume.
Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Ottawa remains committed to maintaining “constructive discussions” with Washington despite the sudden escalation. “We can’t control the trade policy of the United States. We recognise that policy has fundamentally changed from the policy in the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s,” Carney said before departing for the ASEAN Summit in Malaysia.
He noted that Canadian negotiators had been making steady progress in discussions on key sectors, including steel, aluminium, and energy, before talks were halted. “We stand ready to build on that progress when the Americans are ready to have those discussions,” Carney said.
White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett defended the President’s decision, saying Trump’s frustration with Canadian trade negotiators had “built up over time.”
The latest move adds uncertainty to one of the world’s largest trading relationships. Trump has already imposed 35 per cent tariffs on certain Canadian exports and has repeatedly hinted that Canada should “become the 51st US state” remarks that have drawn sharp criticism from Ottawa.
