Trump Raises Tariffs On Canada 10%
Donald Trump, United States President, has announced an additional 10% tariff on Canadian imports following a negative television commercial that featured a speech by former U.S. President Ronald Reagan.
Officials in Ontario said the ad, which criticises Trump’s tariff policy, will be pulled from the airwaves next week.
However, Trump stated in a social media post that since the ad aired during Game 1 of the World Series on Friday night, he decided to increase duties on Canadian goods.
“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 said in a post on his social media platform.
Earlier in the week, Trump had announced that trade talks with Canada were being suspended over the commercial, which debuted earlier this month.
According to ABC News, the ad includes audio excerpts from Reagan’s 1987 address, delivered when he imposed duties on certain Japanese products. In the speech, Reagan warned about the long-term economic risks of high tariffs and the potential for a trade war.
Trump also claimed, without providing evidence, that the ad “was Canada’s hope that the United States Supreme Court will come to their ‘rescue’ on Tariffs that they have used for years to hurt the United States.”
The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear a case this term concerning Trump’s extensive tariff policy.
In response to the controversy, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute said on social media Thursday evening that the Canadian ad campaign used “selective audio and video” of Reagan and “misrepresents” what he said in the address.
