Canadian officials are pushing back against U.S. tariffs with a new digital billboard campaign across multiple states. In the Metro Detroit area, billboards have been spotted with messages like “Tariffs are a tax on your grocery bill.”
According to John Babcock, a spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada, the ads have been placed in several states, including Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, and others, as well as Washington, D.C.
The government of Canada has launched this campaign to raise awareness among Americans about the economic impact of tariffs. Babcock explained that the initiative is designed to highlight how tariffs increase costs on everyday essentials like fuel and groceries, ultimately affecting hardworking Americans.
This comes in response to President Trump’s tariffs, which led Canada to implement retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods. Trump’s proposed 25% tariffs on steel and aluminum prompted Canada to threaten $21 billion in countermeasures. The tensions led to Ontario proposing a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to the U.S., though this plan was later suspended. More recently, Trump imposed 25% tariffs on imported vehicles and auto parts, which could affect relations with key trading partners, including Canada.
The move could also disrupt the automotive supply chain, as many cars sold in the U.S. are imported from countries like Mexico and Canada. While some, like United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain, support these tariffs as a move to protect American workers, the broader impact on trade relations remains significant.
