In a stunning example of how modern trade wars are fought not with missiles, but with 80s soundbites President Trump has threatened to slap an extra 10% tariff on Canadian goods. The reason? An anti tariff ad commissioned by the province of Ontario and run during the World Series.
Forget expensive Super Bowl slots; this commercial, aired during America’s biggest baseball moment, may prove to be the costliest campaign in history.
What is Going on Up There?
The commercial, conceived by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, featured audio of former President Ronald Reagan from a 1987 speech, in which he stated that tariffs “hurt every American worker and consumer.” Ontario’s clear aim was to use a Republican icon to undermine Trump’s trade policies with a hefty $75 million campaign targeting US audiences.
The timing became particularly cheeky after the Toronto Blue Jays, based in Ontario, unexpectedly clawed their way into the World Series.
The ad, naturally, did not please the current President. Trump immediately took to his social media platform, calling the ad a “fraud” that misrepresented Reagan’s true position and was meant to influence the US Supreme Court ahead of a key hearing on the legality of his tariffs next month.
What followed was a magnificent escalation:
- Trade Talks Halted: Trump immediately froze all trade discussions with Canada.
- A Pause, Not a Stop: Premier Ford, after speaking to Prime Minister Mark Carney (who is, you know, actually in charge of Canada), promised to pause the commercial on Monday meaning it aired throughout the World Series weekend.
- The Retaliation: In response to the delay, Trump announced the new 10% tariff on Canada, “over and above”what they already pay.
Tariffs, Trade, and a Maple Syrup Bet
The new 10% levy is a threat layered on top of the already complex trade relationship. The US already imposes a 35% general tariff on Canadian goods, though most are exempt under the existing free trade agreement. Still, specific tariffs already hit key Canadian exports, including a painful 50% levy on metals and 25% on automobiles critical, as Ontario is home to the bulk of Canada’s car manufacturing. Tariffs, as experts repeatedly point out, are taxes paid by the importing American companies, making this a tax on US consumers first.
The absurdity of the situation peaked when Ford and California Governor Gavin Newsom engaged in a mock World Series bet on social media, joking repeatedly about the tariffs. Ford, whose Blue Jays are battling Newsom’s LA Dodgers, pledged maple syrup, quipping the tariff might cost him “a few extra bucks at the border these days, but it’ll be worth it.”
The Diplomatic Deep Freeze
Despite Prime Minister Carney’s ready statement that Canada is prepared “to continue to build on the progress” in trade talks, the diplomatic forecast looks chilly. Both leaders are due at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Malaysia this week.
However, Trump told reporters travelling with him that he has “no intention” of meeting his Canadian counterpart. Meanwhile, Carney pointed out that Canada is developing new trade relationships globally, including deals with several ASEAN members. It seems Canada is perfectly capable of walking and chewing gum at the same time, even if its biggest trading partner is throwing a political tantrum over an old speech.
The Canadian Chamber of Commerce, perhaps hoping for a diplomatic miracle, stated that tariffs “remain a tax on America first, then North American competitiveness as a whole.” We can only hope this spat is resolved quickly, before Canada decides to air a commercial featuring Thomas Jefferson criticising tea taxes.
Related topics: North America
