President Donald Trump plans to raise tariffs on Canadian goods by 10 percent, according to a TruthSocial post on Saturday.
The president did not share a timetable for when the new tariffs would take effect or more details about the goods that might be affected. Imports from Canada have been subject to a 35% tax since August 1, unless they qualify for differential treatment under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement. Many Canadian goods are also subject to specific tariff rules, such as those imposed on automobiles, lumber, and steel.
The increased tariffs come after the Ontario government began airing an anti-tariff television ad in the United States last week. The ad features excerpts from a 1987 speech by then-US President Ronald Reagan, which includes some quotes detailing the negative effects of tariffs and acknowledging the value of free trade. Reagan’s radio speech was given to explain the temporary tariffs he had imposed on Japan at the time.
On Thursday night, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute issued a statement on X protesting the Ontario government’s unauthorized use of the speech.
Hours later, Trump re-shared the statement in a TruthSocial post, claiming the ad was aired to interfere with the Supreme Court’s upcoming tariff decision, before adding, “All trade negotiations with Canada are hereby terminated.”
Asked for a response to the cancellation of trade talks, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters on Friday that “a lot of progress” has been made in trade talks. “And we’re ready to follow that progress and build on it as long as the American people are ready to have those conversations,” he added, according to YouTube videos of the comments uploaded by CNN and the Associated Press.
Also Friday, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on X that after speaking with Carney, he decided to pause the ad campaign on Monday to resume trade talks — but that the ads will air during the weekend’s two World Series games in Toronto.
Trump’s announcement to raise tariffs on Canadian imports followed those remarks. Trump and Carney had plans to attend the biennial summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Malaysia over the weekend, though it was unclear whether the leaders would meet to discuss the latest trade dispute.
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