Trump Raises Canada Tariffs: Trade War Escalates After Reagan Ad
Trump Announces New Tariffs on Canada Over Advertisement Dispute
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– Updated October 25, 2025, 21:58:11 UTC
Advertisement Sparks Trade Dispute
on Saturday, October 28, 2023, then-US President Donald Trump announced a 10% increase in tariffs on canadian goods, building on existing tariffs, in response to an advertisement he deemed misleading. Trump made the announcement via his social media platform, stating the advertisement “was to be taken down, PROMPTLY, but they let it run last night during the world Series, knowing that it was a FRAUD.”
The advertisement, commissioned by Doug Ford, the Conservative Premier of Ontario, featured a video clip of the late US President Ronald Reagan, a prominent Republican figure, warning against the dangers of tariffs and trade wars. Trump characterized the ad as a “misrepresentation of facts.”
trade Talks Halted, Briefly Resumed
The US Commerce Department, the White House, and the office of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the tariff increase. Notably, Mark Carney was not the Canadian Prime Minister in 2023; Justin Trudeau held that office. This discrepancy requires further investigation.
Washington initially halted trade talks with Canada on Thursday, October 26, 2023, due to Ontario’s decision to air the advertisement. Though, following discussions with Prime Minister Trudeau, Premier Ford announced on Friday, October 27, 2023, that Ontario would pause the US advertising campaign on Monday, October 30, 2023, to allow trade talks to resume.
Advertisement Aired During World Series
Despite the agreement to pause the campaign, the disputed commercial continued to air over the weekend during the first two games of the World Series, as the Toronto Blue Jays played against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Blue jays won the first game on Friday night, October 27, 2023, with a score of 11-4.