Ontario Premier Doug Ford has doubled down on his decision to run a controversial anti-tariff advertisement in the United States featuring former US President Ronald Reagan. Despite backlash from President Donald Trump and the suspension of US-Canada trade talks, Ford said on Monday, “We achieved our goal.”
According to Ford, the ad — which criticized tariffs and promoted free trade — has sparked global discussions. “It’s had one billion views and has been seen from the UK to India,” he said proudly.
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Trump Responds with Tariff Threats
President Trump reacted sharply to the advert, announcing on Truth Social that he would impose a 10% hike on tariffs against Canada “over and above” current levels.
When asked for clarification, Trump told reporters, “I don’t know when it’s going to kick in, and we’ll see, but I don’t really want to discuss it.”
Currently, the US maintains a 35% tariff on Canadian goods, though many are exempt under the existing free trade agreement. Other key sectors, including steel, aluminium, and automobiles, face tariffs of 50%, 50%, and 25% respectively.
Trade Talks Collapse After Advertisement
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed that negotiations with the US were progressing positively before the advert aired. “We were exchanging term sheets and were close to a deal,” Carney said. “Then there were the ads, and everything changed.”
The commercial, funded by the Ontario government, used clips from Ronald Reagan’s 1987 national radio address, in which Reagan said tariffs “hurt every American.” Trump later blasted the ad as “fraudulent” and accused Canada of meddling in a US Supreme Court case on the legality of his sweeping tariffs against multiple countries.
Ford Says Carney Approved the Ad
Ford told reporters that Prime Minister Carney and his chief of staff were informed of the advert before its release. Addressing the Ontario legislature, Ford called it “the most successful ad in North American history,” crediting it for igniting a global discussion on trade fairness and US tariffs.
“President Trump wants to attack our country, but I’m never going to take a back seat to President Trump,” Ford said defiantly.
Mixed Reactions Across Canada
The ad has divided Canadian political circles. Patrick Brown, mayor of Brampton, said he applauds Ford’s courage “to call out the US president on his inconsistencies.”
Meanwhile, British Columbia Premier David Eby announced plans for his province to release its own anti-tariff campaign next month to protest US duties on lumber exports.
Conclusion
Doug Ford’s Reagan-inspired anti-tariff campaign has triggered one of the most heated moments in recent US-Canada trade relations. While Ford celebrates the advert as a success for sparking dialogue, the fallout has strained diplomatic ties and stalled trade negotiations. Whether this bold move will lead to new economic talks or deepen divisions remains to be seen.