Trump slaps Canada with an extra 10% in tariffs for Reagan's anti-tariff announcement.
President Donald Trump plans to impose an additional 10% tariff on imports from Canada in retaliation for what he calls a "misleading" television ad in which former President Donald Reagan criticized the imposition of tariffs.
“Canada was caught red-handed posting a fraudulent ad for a Ronald Reagan speech on tariffs,” Trump wrote on social media while flying to Malaysia.
"Due to the gross misrepresentation of the facts and this hostile act, I will increase tariffs on Canada by 10% above what they are already paying," he said.
Canada generally pays a 35% tax on products sold to the U.S., with the exception of certain goods covered by the trade agreement signed by the three North American countries (Canada, the U.S., and Mexico), and a few specific exceptions, such as steel and aluminum, which carry a 50% tax.
Trump already had an outburst on Friday against Ontario Governor Doug Ford for waiting until Monday to stop airing the ad, after the first two games of the World Series or baseball playoffs between the Toronto Blue Jays (Ontario) and the Los Angeles Dodgers.
"The ad should have been pulled immediately, but they still aired it last night during the World Series knowing it's a fraud," Trump insisted in his Saturday address while flying on Air Force One.
For the Conservative leader, "this is dirty play, but I can play even dirtier," he insisted. The airing of that announcement previously prompted Trump to respond last Thursday by breaking off trade negotiations with Canada.
Ford assured that the commercial would stop airing on Monday, allowing negotiations to continue. But he insisted it would be shown during the first two games of the finals, played in Toronto on Friday and Saturday, so that Americans would be aware of its content and what their president is pursuing.
"Our intention was always to start a conversation about the kind of economy the United States wants to build and the impact of tariffs on workers and businesses, and we've achieved that goal," said Ford, a conservative politician who describes himself as an admirer of Reagan.
Read alsoThe Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation has intervened in the controversy, posting the entire April 25, 1987, speech. Trump accuses Canada of editing it without permission.
In his remarks, Reagan reflects on the recent imposition of tariffs on some Japanese products due to that country's inability to implement trade agreements reached on electronics and semiconductors.
That context isn't given, but in his speech, Reagan is heard saying what appears in the controversial ad: "When someone says 'we're going to impose tariffs on foreign imports,' it seems like they're doing something patriotic to protect American products and jobs, and sometimes, for a short time, this works, but only for a short time."
Then the former Republican president points out that, in the long run, "trade barriers harm every single American worker and consumer." He continues, "Then the worst happens: markets recede and collapse, businesses and industries fail, and millions of Americans lose their jobs."
Furthermore, "high tariffs lead to retaliation from other countries and spark a vicious trade war," he says in both his speech and the ad.
And he concludes: “There is a growing understanding around the world that the way to achieve prosperity for all nations lies in rejecting protectionist legislation and promoting fair and free competition. American jobs and growth are at stake.”
According to Trump, this is all "distorted facts" and "egregious behavior" to express his opposition to the tariffs and his intent to interfere in the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on the legality of the duties. A hearing to present arguments on their legality before the Supreme Court is scheduled for November 5.
lavanguardia




