Trump says he’s hitting Canada with extra 10% tariff over ad he disliked

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE — President Trump said Saturday that he plans to hike tariffs on imports of Canadian goods by an extra 10% because of an anti-tariff television ad aired by the province of Ontario.

The ad used the words of former President Ronald Reagan to criticize U.S. tariffs, angering Trump, who said he would end trade talks with Canada. Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford said he would pull the ad after the weekend. It ran Friday and Saturday during the first two games of the World Series.

“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 said in a post on his social media platform as he flew aboard Air Force One to Malaysia.

“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.”

The ad used a recording of Reagan criticizing tariffs, though his comments were edited. He often criticized government policies — including protectionist measures such as tariffs — that interfered with free commerce and he spent much of that 1987 radio address spelling out the case against tariffs.

It was unclear what legal authority Trump would use to impose the additional import taxes. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on when the 10% hike would go into effect, and whether it would apply to all Canadian goods.

Dominic LeBlanc, the Canadian minister responsible for trade issues with the U.S., tried to draw a distinction by pointing out in a statement that the responsibility for negotiations rests with Canada’s federal government, not provincial leaders.

“Progress is best achieved through direct engagement with the U.S. administration,” he said.

Canada’s economy has been hit hard by Trump’s tariffs, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has been trying to work with the U.S. president to lower them. More than three-quarters of Canadian exports go to the United States, and nearly $2.7 billion worth of goods and services cross the border daily.

Spokespersons for Carney and Ford did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Many Canadian products have been hit with a 35% tariff, while steel and aluminum face rates of 50%. Energy products have a lower rate of 10%, while the vast majority of goods are covered by the U.S.-Canada-Mexico Agreement, and are exempt from tariffs. That trade agreement is due for review. Trump negotiated the deal in his first term, but has since soured on it.

Trump and Carney will attend the Assn. of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Malaysia. But Trump told reporters traveling with him that he had no intention of meeting Carney there.

Trump has complained that the Ontario-sponsored ad was aimed at influencing the U.S. Supreme Court ahead of arguments scheduled next month that could decide whether he has the power to impose sweeping tariffs, a key part of his economic strategy. Lower courts had ruled he had exceeded his authority.

Schiefelbein writes for the Associated Press. AP writers Rob Gillies in Toronto and Josh Boak in Tokyo contributed to this report.