US President Donald Trump has decided to increase tariffs on Canada by 10% above current levels, days after ending trade talks with Ottawa due to what he described as a "misleading advertisement" broadcast by Canadian authorities.
Trump explained in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, that the decision came in response to an advertisement broadcast by the Ontario provincial government, which included a clip of the late US President Ronald Reagan saying that "tariffs cause trade wars and economic disasters." He considered the advertisement "provocative and politically motivated."
For his part, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Friday that his country is "ready to resume trade talks with Washington as soon as possible."
There has been no comment yet from the White House, the US Department of Commerce, or Carney's office regarding the new measures or the future of trade negotiations between the two countries.
Although approximately 85% of goods are duty-free between the United States and Canada due to their commitment to the North American Free Trade Agreement, Trump's international tariffs on sectors such as steel, aluminum, and automobiles have had a negative impact on Canadian companies and led to job losses.
Trump has used tariffs as a means of pressure on several countries around the world, and his trade war has led to US tariffs rising to their highest levels since the 1930s.
Trump raises tariffs on Canada by 10%
