U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Thursday the immediate cessation of trade discussions with Canada after an advertisement by the Ontario government utilized the words of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan to convey an anti-tariff message to American viewers. Trump criticized the ad as misleading and fake in a late-night post on his Truth Social platform, attributing it to Canada instead of Ontario.
Expressing discontent with the ad, Trump reiterated his decision to end trade negotiations with Canada after the ad aired during a nationally broadcast baseball game. Despite the ad’s impact, Trump emphasized his willingness to engage in competitive tactics if needed.
Trump clarified that he had no intention of meeting with Prime Minister Mark Carney, who was also traveling to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations Summit. Just two weeks ago, Trump had instructed his cabinet members to work on trade agreements with Canada concerning steel, aluminum, and energy.
Carney, responding to Trump’s comments, mentioned ongoing positive negotiations between Canadian and American officials. He stated that Canada is prepared to resume discussions and continue building on the progress made when the U.S. is ready.
The contentious ad, which featured an excerpt from Reagan’s radio address on free trade, prompted Trump to halt the trade talks abruptly. Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced the ad’s suspension effective Monday after consultations with Prime Minister Carney to facilitate the resumption of trade discussions between the two nations.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute also raised concerns about the ad, stating that the ad misrepresented Reagan’s remarks without their authorization. The foundation is exploring legal options in response to this issue.
Ford defended the ad, citing President Reagan’s support for free and fair trade, while emphasizing the importance of initiating dialogues on economic policies. The ad campaign, funded by Ontario with a budget of $75 million, has been broadcast on major networks and was particularly visible during prominent sports events.
The trade negotiations between Canada and the U.S., ongoing for the past two weeks, were abruptly terminated by Trump, who accused the anti-tariff ad campaign of interfering with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision-making process on tariffs. The history of trade disputes between Ontario and the U.S., including previous tariff escalations and subsequent resolutions, has contributed to the current tension in trade discussions.
