Washington: US President Donald Trump announced an increase in tariffs on Canadian goods by an additional 10 percent, attributing the decision to a controversial advertisement campaign funded by Ontario. The ad, which aired during the World Series, featured late US president Ronald Reagan criticizing high tariffs, a move Trump denounced as deceptive.

According to United Nations, the tariff announcement follows Trump’s decision to terminate all trade discussions with Canada due to the ad campaign. Trump criticized the advertisement on his Truth Social platform during his travel to Asia, emphasizing the urgency of removing what he called a fraudulent ad.

The Ronald Reagan Foundation expressed its disapproval on X, accusing the Ontario government of using selective audio and video in the ad, and mentioned it is contemplating legal actions. The timing of the advertisement added tension to the World Series, featuring the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers, with the Blue Jays winning the first game.

Ontario agreed to withdraw the contentious ad by Monday to facilitate the resumption of trade negotiations, although it aired once more during the second game of the series.

Trump’s tariffs, particularly on steel, aluminum, and automobiles, have significantly impacted Canada, leading to job losses and operational challenges for businesses. Despite these tariffs, the US and Canada continue to operate under the USMCA, which maintains a largely tariff-free trade but with increased challenges.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, in a recent speech, criticized the US for raising tariffs to levels not seen since the Great Depression, calling for a substantial shift in Canada’s economic strategy, which he acknowledged will require sacrifices and time.

Both Trump and Carney are expected to attend a dinner at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) meeting in South Korea, though Trump has indicated he does not plan to meet with Carney.