Reagan’s Legacy Looms Over Trade Row: Trump Slaps Canada with Steep Tariffs

President Donald Trump has intensified the trade conflict with Canada by introducing an extra 10% tariff on Canadian imports, referencing an anti-tariff commercial from Ontario that featured former U.S. President Ronald Reagan. Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social account after several days of public disputes over the ad, which he accused Canada of using to distort Reagan’s position and sway an upcoming Supreme Court decision regarding his global tariff measures, according to a

. Ontario Premier Doug Ford stated on Friday that the province would suspend its advertising campaign by Monday in hopes of reducing tensions and restarting trade discussions, as reported by . The White House criticized Canada for engaging in "political theater" instead of genuine negotiations; a cited spokesperson Kush Desai, who said further discussions would be "futile" unless Canada showed greater commitment.

The Ontario commercial, which was broadcast during the opening game of the World Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers, featured Reagan’s 1987 comments against tariffs to emphasize their negative effects on American businesses and workers. The campaign, costing CA$75 million (around $54 million USD), aimed to reach American viewers during major events like the World Series, according to a

. Trump, however, condemned the ad as "deceptive," arguing that it misrepresented Reagan’s actual views, which he claimed supported tariffs for national security reasons, as outlined in a .

This dispute has brought U.S.-Canada trade talks to a standstill, which had previously been making gradual progress on matters such as steel, aluminum, and energy before the ad campaign heightened hostilities, according to Cryptopolitan. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney stated that Canada is ready to return to negotiations "when the Americans are prepared," but also stressed the importance of diversifying trade partners beyond the U.S. in light of Trump’s tariffs. Carney, who plans to visit Asia, noted that while Canada cannot dictate U.S. trade policy, it can work on expanding into other markets, as reported by Cryptopolitan.

Economists caution that these tariffs could worsen existing pressures on critical industries. The Peterson Institute for International Economics pointed out that similar trade disputes have historically raised costs by as much as 15% for affected sectors, while Brookings Institution experts forecast a 5-10% drop in cross-border trade if talks break down further, according to Coinotag. Canadian authorities indicated that 20% of their exports are already subject to U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum, and lumber, prompting initiatives to lessen dependence on the U.S. market, Coinotag reported.

The timing of the ad campaign—airing during the World Series—greatly increased its exposure, with the first game attracting over 12 million viewers on Fox. Ford defended the campaign, saying its purpose was to encourage discussion about economic policy, and that it effectively reached "top-level U.S. audiences," as noted by USA Today. However, the White House denounced the ads as a distraction from meaningful negotiations, and Trump characterized the dispute as a matter of principle: "Due to their significant misrepresentation of facts and this unfriendly act, I am raising the tariff on Canada by 10% above the current rate," he stated, according to Bloomberg.

As the situation develops, the world is closely monitoring the outcome, given the importance of U.S.-Canada trade ties. Ontario’s decision to halt the ads signals a shift toward diplomatic efforts, but Trump’s firm approach suggests more conflict may be ahead. With the Supreme Court expected to decide on the legality of Trump’s tariffs in November, the ruling could have a major impact on the future of North American trade, USA Today observed.