Trump Terminates US-Canada Trade Negotiations Over Controversial Ronald Reagan Tariff Advertisement

The Canadian administration has not provided an immediate response.

President Donald Trump has ceased all trade negotiations with Canada following an advertisement featuring former President Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about tariffs. Trump labeled the advertisement as "fraudulent," emphasizing that tariffs are crucial for America's economic stability and national security.

"The Ronald Reagan Foundation has recently announced that Canada has dishonestly used an advertisement, which is FAKE, showing Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs," Trump declared in a post on X.

"The advertisement cost $75,000,000. Their only intention was to interfere with the U.S. Supreme Court's decision, and other courts. TARIFFS ARE ESSENTIAL TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY AND ECONOMY OF THE U.S.A. Due to their outrageous behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED. Thank you for your attention to this matter."

Trump implemented tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and automobiles earlier this year, which prompted Ottawa to respond with similar measures. Both nations had been engaged in discussions for weeks regarding a potential agreement for the steel and aluminum sectors.

Regarding the controversial advertisement, Ontario Premier Doug Ford revealed earlier this week that an anti-tariff message from his province had captured Trump's attention.

"I heard that the president saw our advertisement. I'm certain he wasn't pleased," Ford stated on Tuesday.

"It's official: Ontario's new advertising campaign in the U.S. has launched. Using every tool at our disposal, we'll never cease advocating against American tariffs on Canada. The path to prosperity involves working together."

The advertisement utilized archival footage of former U.S. President and Republican Ronald Reagan. It depicted Reagan criticizing tariffs on foreign products while cautioning that they resulted in job losses and trade conflicts in the long term.

"High tariffs inevitably provoke retaliation from foreign countries and trigger intense trade wars. Then the worst occurs. Markets diminish and collapse, businesses and industries shut down, and millions of individuals lose employment," Reagan was heard stating in the advertisement.

When Ford announced the advertisement, he remarked, "I'm a significant Ronald Reagan admirer...we're going to communicate that message to every Republican district across the entire nation."

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation released a statement late Thursday indicating that the Ontario government's advertisement "employed selective audio and video" of Reagan and that the foundation was considering legal options.

"The advertisement misrepresents the Presidential Radio Address (by Reagan in 1987), and the Government of Ontario neither sought nor received permission to use and edit the remarks," the foundation declared in its statement.

The Canadian government has not issued an immediate comment.

This latest extraordinary development in relations between the North American neighbors occurs just over two weeks after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Trump at the White House seeking relief from substantial U.S. tariffs.

The abrupt decision to terminate trade discussions will be a setback for Carney, whom Trump described as a "world-class leader" during their October 7 meeting, adding that the Canadian would be "very satisfied" with their conversation. At that time, however, Trump did not offer immediate concessions on tariffs.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney informed reporters on Thursday that Canada would not permit unfair U.S. access to its markets if negotiations on various trade agreements with Washington fail.

Trump has employed tariffs as leverage with numerous countries globally. The Republican's trade policies have increased U.S. tariffs to their highest levels since the 1930s, and he has consistently threatened additional duties, creating concerns among businesses and economists.