Short answer: Yes. Ronald Reagan spoke against tariffs in 1987, arguing that protectionism and trade barriers harm the economy and workers, and he described tariffs as a flawed tool for addressing trade imbalances. However, he also used tariffs in specific contexts as a negotiating instrument, such as actions aimed at Japan, which reflects a nuanced stance rather than a blanket free-trade absolutism. Context and nuances

• Core message in 1987: Reagan emphasized that tariffs are not the solution to trade imbalances and warned that protectionism invites retaliation and harms American consumers and workers over the long run.
• Specific actions: He did impose targeted tariffs in a trade dispute with Japan in the 1980s, including substantial duties on certain Japanese goods, as part of a broader effort to address perceived unfair trade practices and to pressure better behavior in international markets.
• Public framing: The general rhetoric from Reagan framed tariffs as a last resort or strategic tool in limited circumstances, not as a default policy for all trade.

If you want, I can pull exact quotes from his 1987 radio address and related statements and compare them with the later Canadian-Ontario ad usage that sparked the recent discussion.