The article discusses the clash between President Trump and the Ontario government's use of Ronald Reagan's pro-free trade message in a recent advertisement. In response to the ad, Trump announced a 10% tariff increase on Canada, highlighting the stark contrast between Reagan's free-trade principles and Trump's protectionist stance.

In his article, Paul Krugman refutes Donald Trump's claims that Ronald Reagan loved tariffs, emphasizing that Reagan was a strong advocate for free trade who used tariffs sparingly and for political reasons. Krugman contrasts Reagan's adherence to international agreements with Trump's chaotic approach to tariff policy, highlighting a significant departure from Reagan's principles within the Republican Party.