Ontario Premier Doug Ford Remains Resolute on Anti-Duty Ad Campaign Featuring Ronald Reagan
Provincial Leader Doug Ford has remained steadfast behind his choice to run an anti-tariff advertisement in the United States that featured Ronald Reagan and upset Donald Trump, saying "we have achieved our goal".
Ford added the TV spot had "a billion views", and has attracted notice from as far as the United Kingdom and the Indian subcontinent.
These remarks on Monday come after President Trump suspended trade talks with Canada over the advert and announced that he would increase duties on Canada 10% "over and above" current levies.
The two leaders are in the Asian region this week for the ASEAN conference, but Trump told reporters he had no intention to meet with Carney and would not be seeing him "in the foreseeable future".
Donald Trump revealed the additional 10% tariff on Canadian products via a social media update over the past few days. It is uncertain, however, if the additional levy would be applied broadly or on specific sectors.
Questioned on details on Monday, Trump said: "I'm uncertain when it's going to take effect, and we'll see, but I prefer not to discuss it."
- United States has imposed a 35% tariff on products from Canada, though the majority are excluded under an existing free trade agreement.
- It has also imposed duties on particular industries, including half on metal products and a quarter on vehicles.
The Prime Minister informed the press on Monday that the United States and Canadian governments were close to a trade agreement and were sharing negotiation documents before talks concluded.
"Then there were the ads, and everything changed," the Prime Minister remarked.
The advert, sponsored by the provincial administration, quotes former US President Reagan as stating duties "harm all US citizens". It uses segments from his 1987 national radio address that focused on foreign trade.
The President labeled it "deceptive", and accused Canada of wanting to interfere in an forthcoming Supreme Court hearing that will consider whether the broad duties imposed by the president on Canada, Mexico, China and many other states are lawful.
The Prime Minister refrained from criticizing the Premier or the commercial itself, but he underscored that it is the national government's duty to conduct trade talks with the United States.
In the meantime, the Premier informed journalists on Monday that the national leader had viewed the advertisement before it was released, as did his top aide.
In the Ontario legislature, Ford called the advert "the most effective in the history of North America" and said it had spurred discussions throughout the United States and globally about the President's duties.
"President Trump wants to attack our country, but I will not remain passive to the US leader," the Premier declared.
Several political figures in Canada have spoken out in support of the Premier.
Patrick Brown, the Ontario city leader, told a national broadcaster on Sunday that he is "glad our provincial leader had the courage to challenge the American leader on his inconsistencies".
BC Leader David Eby said his province is preparing to launch their anti-duty commercials next month over US levies on lumber.