U.S. President Donald Trump declared an immediate halt to all trade negotiations with Canada, citing what he described as fraudulent actions by the Canadian government. The decision was triggered by an advertising campaign from Ontario, which Trump claimed misused a quote from former U.S. President Ronald Reagan to oppose tariffs.
In a statement posted on Truth Social, Trump expressed his outrage, saying, “The Ronald Reagan Foundation has just announced that Canada has fraudulently used an advertisement, which is FAKE, featuring Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about Tariffs. They only did this to interfere with the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, and other courts. TARIFFS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY, AND ECONOMY, OF THE U.S.A. Based on their egregious behaviour, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.”
The controversy stems from an anti-tariff advertisement issued in Ontario, which featured excerpts from a 1987 radio address by Reagan. The one-minute ad referenced Reagan’s remarks during a trade dispute with Japan over semiconductors, where he justified imposing 100 per cent tariffs on Japanese electronics.
However, the advertisement also included Reagan’s warnings about the long-term consequences of high tariffs, stating, “High tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars. Then the worst happens. Markets shrink and collapse, businesses and industries shut down and millions of people lose their jobs.” The ad was broadcast on Newsmax and Bloomberg.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, announcing the campaign, emphasised its reach and intent, saying, “I’m a big Ronald Reagan fan . . . We’re going to launch a $75 million ad, and we’re going to repeat that message to every Republican district there is, right across the entire country.”
The advertisement has significantly escalated tensions between the U.S. and Canada, culminating in Trump’s decision to terminate trade talks. The move underscores ongoing disputes over tariffs and their broader implications for U.S.-Canada economic relations.
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