Trump announces a 10% increase in tariffs on Canada
Trump announced a 10% increase in tariffs on imports from Canada due to an announcement published by the province of Ontario
President Donald Trump said Saturday that he will increase tariffs on Canada by 10% from current levels, further escalating trade tensions that have led to the suspension of talks between the two countries.
Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social account, where he justified the tariff increase by a television advertisement that used statements from Former Republican President Ronald Reagan against the tariffs and that it was promoted by the government of Ontario, the Canadian province where the capital, Ottawa, is located.
Trump argues that these statements were taken out of context and that they sought to influence the Supreme Court, in charge of reviewing a case about the tariffs imposed by his Administration.
“Your ad had to be withdrawn IMMEDIATELY, but they let it pass last night during the World Series, knowing that it was a FRAUD,” the president emphasized regarding the commercial.
The new friction began unexpectedly on Thursday when Trump announced that he had ordered the suspension of trade negotiations with Canada due to this one-minute commercial commissioned by the Government of Ontario.
Trump expected that the ad would not be broadcast during the game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers, which was followed by millions of Americans.
“The United States can defend itself against high and authoritarian Canadian tariffs (and also against the from the rest of the world!). Ronald Reagan LOVED tariffs for national security and economic reasons,” the president argued.
Last September, the Supreme Court agreed to fast-track review of the legality of most of the tariffs imposed by Trump, a case that Trump himself considers vital to advancing his economic program.
The high court is scheduled to hear arguments in early November on whether the Trump administration can use emergency economic powers to impose the largest tariff increase in recent U.S. history.
Trump again on Saturday accused Canada of using the ad to influence the Supreme Court's decision.
The ad was also scheduled to air on Saturday, but it is not yet clear whether it will air as part of the second game's broadcast.
Ontario's Conservative premier, Doug Ford, said in a statement on Friday that he will suspend the advertising campaign starting Monday after speaking with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.