A mayor from the Canadian province of Ontario defended an advertisement paid for by his province that includes remarks from former President Reagan to criticize President Trump’s tariffs.
The ad angered Trump, who has since said he will impose an additional 10 percent tariff on Canada’s exports to the United States.
“I support the premier’s approach,” Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown said Sunday on CBC’s “Rosemary Barton Live,” referring to Ontaro Premier Doug Ford. “Sometimes you need to throw a rock in a pond to get a splash. He’s got a reaction.”
“It’s got a lot of coverage. And the words are truthful, despite what they’re trying to spin and say that, you know, it’s only a portion of the speech, Ronald Reagan viewed tariffs as taxes and would cost America in the long term.”
Trump shut down trade negotiations with Canada last week after Ontario’s government put out the advertisement. The advertisement’s launch earlier this month marked the beginning of the Ontario government’s “new advertising campaign” targeting their southern neighbors against tariffs, which have been central to Trump’s second term.
The advertisement rapidly gained criticism for its use of spliced audio of Reagan’s comments on tariffs. The president has referred to the advertisement as “FAKE” by way of a social media post that called off trade negotiations with his country’s northern neighbor.
“Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
On Saturday, Trump hit Canada with a 10 percent tariff beyond its current rate after the advertisement aired amid the World Series, currently being played by the Los Angeles Dodgers and Canada’s own Toronto Blue Jays.
Trump’s tariff policy within the last year has resulted in strained relationships with other U.S. allies like the European Union and Mexico, caused economic uncertainty and rattled markets.
The Hill has reached out to the White House for comment.
