Trump imposes 10% tariff on Canada after controversial Ontario Ad

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
26 Oct 2025 08:16

Trump escalates a trade clash with Canada, imposing a 10% tariff after Ontario aired a Reagan-inspired ad he called “fake” ahead of the APEC summit.

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President Donald Trump reacts during a meeting with Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sunday, October 26, 2025. (AP)

US President Donald Trump announced that his administration would impose an additional 10 percent tariff on Canadian imports, escalating tensions sparked by an anti-tariff advertisement from Ontario that featured former US President Ronald Reagan.

The move came just two days after Trump declared that he was cutting off all trade talks with Canada, denouncing what he called a “fake” publicity campaign.

In a post on his Truth Social platform, written aboard Air Force One en route to Asia for regional meetings, Trump said, “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.”

He continued, “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 Ad sparks controversy

The Ontario government’s commercial drew directly from a 1987 radio address by Reagan, in which he warned about the dangers of protectionism. The ad cited Reagan’s words that “high tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars,” a line that matches the transcript of his speech on the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library’s official website.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation responded on X Thursday, accusing the Ontario government of using “selective audio and video” and saying it was assessing potential legal action.

The dispute gained further public attention as it coincided with the World Series matchup between Canada’s Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Blue Jays dominated the opening game 11–4 on Friday, while the controversial ad reportedly aired again during the broadcast.

Ontario officials later announced plans to withdraw the ad on Monday in hopes of resuming trade discussions, though they allowed it to air once more during Saturday night’s second game.

Economic fallout and broader tensions

Trump’s global tariff strategy, particularly targeting steel, aluminum, and automobile imports, has already taken a toll on Canada’s economy, contributing to job losses and financial strain on local industries.

Despite the recent escalation, both countries remain bound by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which keeps roughly 85 percent of bilateral trade duty-free.

However, growing concerns about protectionism have prompted Canadian officials to warn of deeper economic repercussions. Speaking on Wednesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney said the United States has raised “its tariffs to levels last seen during the Great Depression.”

“Our economic strategy needs to change dramatically,” Carney added, noting that the shift “will take some sacrifices and some time.”

Both leaders are expected to attend a dinner on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea this Wednesday. However, Trump has stated he has “no plans” to meet Carney during the event, signaling a continuing freeze in US-Canada relations.