The core of the dispute originated from an advertisement aired by the Ontario provincial government. This commercial prominently featured former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, whose remarks were used to criticize the implementation of tariffs.
Following the Asia-Pacific summit in South Korea, Prime Minister Carney disclosed that he had cautioned Ontario Premier Doug Ford against broadcasting the advertisement. Carney expressed his disapproval of the ad, stating it was not a measure he would have sanctioned, and subsequently offered an apology to President Trump.
In response to the ad, President Trump ceased all ongoing trade discussions and imposed a 10% tariff hike on Canadian imports. Trump characterized the advertisement as a deceptive act, potentially involving artificial intelligence, and accused Canada of propagating false information.
Despite Trump's claims of fraud, local Canadian leaders, including Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, defended Premier Ford's actions, asserting the ad's accuracy and widespread reach. The advertisement utilized an altered version of Reagan's 1987 speech, where he condemned tariffs as detrimental to American citizens.
Ontario Premier Ford declared that the advertisement would be temporarily suspended, but only after its scheduled broadcast during the World Series. Ford's primary aim was to engage American audiences and foster discussions about the economic consequences of tariffs.