US President Donald Trump says he plans to hike tariffs on imports of Canadian goods by an extra 10 per cent because of an anti-tariff television ad aired by the province of Ontario.
The ad used the words of former president Ronald Reagan to criticise US tariffs, angering Mr Trump who said he would end trade talks with Canada.
The ad ran Friday night during the first game of the World Series, and Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford said he would pull it after the weekend.
“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,” Mr Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform as he flew aboard Air Force One to Malaysia.
Donald Trump ends Canada trade talks over TV ad
“Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act, I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10 per cent over and above what they are paying now.”
It was unclear what legal authority Mr Trump would use to impose the additional import taxes.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on when the hike would come into effect, and whether it would apply to all Canadian goods.
Canada hit hard by Trump tariffs
Canada’s economy has been hit hard by Mr Trump’s tariffs, and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has been trying to work with Mr Trump to lower them.
More than three-quarters of Canadian exports go to the US, and nearly $3.6 billion Canadian ($3.9 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border daily.
A spokesperson for Mr Carney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Mark Carney has been trying to work with Donald Trump to lower tariffs. (Reuters: Patrick Doyle)
Many Canadian products have been hit with a 35 per cent tariff, while steel and aluminium face rates of 50 per cent.
Energy products have a lower rate of 10 per cent, while other goods covered by the US-Canada-Mexico Agreement are exempt.
That trade agreement is slated for review.
Mr Trump negotiated the deal in his first term but has since soured on it.
Trump and Carney attend ASEAN summit
Mr Trump and Mr Carney will both attend the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Malaysia.
But Mr Trump told reporters travelling with him that he had no intention of meeting Mr Carney there.
He said the ad misrepresented the position of Mr Reagan, a two-term president and a beloved figure in the Republican Party.
Donald Trump said the ad misrepresented the position of Ronald Reagan. (Reuters: Evelyn Hockstein)
Mr Reagan was wary of tariffs and used much of the 1987 address featured in Ontario’s ad spelling out the case against tariffs.
Mr Trump has complained the ad was aimed at influencing the US Supreme Court ahead of arguments scheduled for next month that could decide whether Mr Trump has the power to impose his sweeping tariffs, a key part of his economic strategy.
AP