Brace yourselves, folks -- U.S. President Donald Trump just slapped a fresh 10% tariff hike on Canadian imports, and it’s all over a provincial ad campaign that’s got more drama than a World Series showdown, as the Epoch Times reports.

This latest trade spat erupted after Ontario’s government aired a $75 million advertisement that Trump claims distorts history and meddles with U.S. judicial matters, prompting a tariff increase on top of the existing 35 percent duties on Canadian goods not covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, alongside separate levies on steel, aluminum, copper, autos, and lumber.

The trouble started with Ontario’s ad, which pulled clips from a 1987 radio address by former President Ronald Reagan, weaving together bits about tariffs on Japan and nods to free trade with Canadian leaders. Trump wasn’t amused, accusing the campaign of twisting Reagan’s words for political gain. Talk about a swing and a miss on historical accuracy.

Ontario ad sparks tariff retaliation

Last week, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute called out the ad for selectively editing Reagan’s remarks without permission, arguing it misrepresented the late president’s stance. They’re not wrong -- cherry-picking history to score points in a trade war is a low blow, even if the intent was to spark debate.

Trump doubled down, alleging the advertisement was a deliberate attempt to sway an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court hearing on tariffs. “The sole purpose of this FRAUD was Canada’s hope that the United States Supreme Court will come to their ‘rescue’ on Tariffs that they have used for years to hurt the United States,” Trump blasted on Truth Social on Oct 25. Nice try, Canada, but judicial interference isn’t a game the U.S. is playing.

By the 23rd, Trump had already pulled the plug on trade talks with Canada, citing the ad as the final straw. If Ontario leaders thought they could poke the bear and walk away unscathed, they miscalculated -- big time.

World Series airing fuels tensions

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced on Oct. 24 that the province would pause the pricey ad campaign starting Oct. 27, but not before letting it run during the World Series clash between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Los Angeles Dodgers. That’s a bold move -- rubbing salt in the wound while millions watch. It’s almost as if Ford wanted one last jab before cooling off.

Ford defended the campaign, saying it aimed to “initiate a conversation” about tariffs’ impact on workers and pit “Reagan Republicans” against “MAGA Republicans.” That’s a fancy way of saying he wanted to stir the pot, but using a revered conservative icon to do it feels more like a fumble than a home run.

Meanwhile, on Oct. 24, Ford teamed up with California Gov. Gavin Newsom for a lighthearted video wager on the World Series, complete with subtle digs at U.S. tariffs and trade retaliations. Newsom, ever the progressive cheerleader, mused about a “tariff-free friendship” between Ontario and California. Dream on, governor -- trade policy isn’t settled over friendly bets.

Retaliatory moves, trade posturing

Ontario didn’t stop at ads -- its leaders have yanked U.S. alcohol from provincially owned liquor stores as a counterpunch to Trump’s tariffs. It’s a petty tit-for-tat, but it shows how quickly trade disputes spiral into everyday impacts. Consumers on both sides lose when politics turns into a bar fight.

Back in Canada, federal officials are trying to keep things on track, with Minister Dominic LeBlanc stressing on Oct. 25 that trade negotiations are Ottawa’s domain, not Ontario’s. He signaled readiness to engage constructively with the U.S. administration, a reminder that not all of Canada is swinging for the fences with provocative ads.

Prime Minister Mark Carney echoed that sentiment on Oct. 24, noting before a trip to Asia that Canada is prepared to build on recent progress in trade discussions with the U.S. It’s a diplomatic olive branch, but after this ad fiasco, trust might be harder to come by.

Navigating a tense trade landscape

This tariff hike isn’t just about an ad -- it’s a flare-up in a long-simmering trade tension between the U.S. and its northern neighbor. Trump’s move sends a clear message: meddling in U.S. affairs, even through slick marketing, comes with a price tag. And that price is now 10 percent steeper for Canadian exporters.

For American workers and businesses, this could be a win, protecting domestic industries from what many see as unfair trade practices. But let’s not kid ourselves -- escalating tariffs often hit consumers hardest, with higher costs trickling down to the checkout line.

At the end of the day, this saga is a cautionary tale about mixing politics, history, and trade policy into a volatile cocktail. Both sides need to step back from the brink and focus on deals that benefit workers, not stunts that inflame tensions. Here’s hoping cooler heads prevail before the next inning of this trade game.