VIDEO: The Canadian ad featuring President Reagan that President Trump doesn't want Americans to believe

Dear American readers, How do you feel about all the tariffs which President Trump has slapped on America's trade partners, particularly Canada? Are they making America stronger? More prosperous? Great again? Is the price which you personally are paying for protectionism worth it? 

President Trump is in a snit because the government of Ontario put together a TV spot, using clips from a speech televised in 1987, in which the last conservative president to occupy the White House says that tariffs are not helpful but hurtful to the American people. Check this out.

Yesterday, while en route to gabfests with assorted Asian leaders in Malaysia and South Korea, POTUS said that, because of the ad, which he called "fake", he's ending all talks with Canada over the ad. But wait (as Vince Offer used to say), there's more. "Because of their serious misrepresentation of the facts, and hostile act," he told the meeja on Air Force One, "I am increasing the Tariff on Canada by 10% over and above what they are paying now."

What did you see in the ad that could have triggered the Donald's ire? To me, it sounds as if President Reagan is in favour of free trade, and against tariffs, which he called "an outdated notion." Did I not hear correctly?

What's the point of getting even tougher on America's biggest trading partner? With Canada already under a US base tariff rate of 35%, the impact of President Trump’s latest gut-punch isn't immediately clear. 

The 35% rate doesn't apply to most Canadian goods because of an exemption for products and shipments made within the rules of the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Steel and aluminum products aren't covered by that waiver, and Canadian-made cars and trucks are only partially eligible for exemption from the 25% tariffs on most foreign autos. 

Marx Carnage, the prime minister of Canuckistan, has been engaged in protracted talks with the US of A to lower the levies and has already lowered his elbow to knee-level. [I assume Canuck readers will get that one. Ed.] After speaking to Mr Carnage, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said the province will pause its ad campaign tomorrow, now that the ads have been seen by millions of Americans, including President Trump, when they interrupted the World Series.

But the damage has been done. The clash has reignited uncertainty between two partners that exchanged $900 billion in goods and services last year and have closely interwoven supply chains for major industries. IMHO, the ongoing trade war benefits no-one, no-one. Let the man who authored The Art of the Deal get on with some sesrious deal-making.