Trump first reacted to the ad on Thursday, calling it “dishonest” and announcing the suspension of trade talks with Ottawa - October 26, 2025
US president denounces Ontario’s “fraudulent” ad as Canada moves to pause campaign and restart trade talks amid escalating tensions
UNITED STATES President Donald Trump has announced a 10% increase in tariffs on Canadian goods, accusing the Ontario provincial government of airing a “misleading” advertisement that misrepresented his trade policies during the broadcast of the World Series.
Reuters reported today that the controversial advert, commissioned by Ontario and aired on Friday night during Game 1 between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers, featured a montage of former US president Ronald Reagan warning that tariffs lead to “trade wars and economic disaster.”
However, the footage was edited out of sequence from a 1980s address in which Reagan defended limited tariffs on Japan as a reluctant exception to his free trade principles.
“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,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“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.”
Trump first reacted to the ad on Thursday, calling it “dishonest” and announcing the suspension of trade talks with Ottawa.
He doubled down on Saturday, posting his statement while aboard Air Force One en route to Malaysia — the first stop on his East Asia tour centred on trade and regional diplomacy.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Friday that, following discussions with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, the province would suspend the US advertising campaign from Monday to help pave the way for negotiations to resume.
“The Premier and I are in agreement that it is in everyone’s interest to get trade discussions back on track,” Carney said, adding that Canada “stands ready to resume talks with the United States.”
It remains unclear which goods will be affected by Trump’s latest tariff hike. Most Canadian exports to the US remain exempt under the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA), signed during Trump’s first term.
However, goods outside the USMCA framework have faced a 35% tariff since August, while steel and aluminium exports from Canada — like those from all other nations — have been subject to 50% tariffs this year.
White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett said on Friday that trade talks with Canada had been “not going well,” noting Trump’s growing frustration with Ottawa. The White House, US Commerce Department and the Canadian prime minister’s office have yet to issue formal comments.
Trump and Carney are both attending the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, but the US president told reporters he had “no plans” to meet the Canadian leader during the event. - October 26, 2025
