U.S. President Donald Trump declared an end to all trade negotiations with Canada following an advertisement from Ontario’s government that used former President Ronald Reagan’s words to criticize tariffs.
Trump made the announcement Thursday night on his Truth Social platform, calling the ad “fraudulent and fake.”
His sudden move has caught both U.S. and Canadian officials off guard, as trade discussions between the two countries had appeared to be progressing.
“TARIFFS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY, AND ECONOMY, OF THE U.S.A.,” Trump wrote.
“Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.”
Reagan’s Words at the Center of the Dispute
The controversy stems from a minute-long ad by Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government, which featured an excerpt from Reagan’s 1987 radio address warning about the dangers of trade wars.
“When someone says let’s impose tariffs on foreign imports, it looks like they’re doing the patriotic thing by protecting American products and jobs,” Reagan says in the ad.
He continued, “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 industry shut down, and millions of people lose their jobs.”
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute criticized Ontario for using the remarks without permission, saying they misrepresented Reagan’s words.
Moreover, the institute stated that no approval had been given for the edited clip, adding that the use of Reagan’s legacy for political purposes was “misleading and inappropriate.”
Trump, who has long championed tariffs as part of his “America First” economic policy, viewed the ad as a personal and political attack.
Earlier in the week, he had referenced the ad during a White House event but had stopped short of taking action.
“I even see foreign countries now that we are doing very well with [tariffs] taking ads, ‘Don’t go with tariffs!’” Trump said on Tuesday. “I saw an ad last night from Canada. If I was Canada, I’d take that same ad also. But I do believe that everybody’s too smart for that.”
However, by Thursday evening, Trump’s tone shifted dramatically.
Ottawa officials confirmed they were informed of the decision to halt trade talks shortly before the Truth Social post went live.
The abrupt decision comes only two weeks after Prime Minister Mark Carney met with Trump at the White House to discuss a deal covering steel, aluminum, and energy.
Negotiations had reportedly advanced under the direction of two senior U.S. cabinet members tasked by Trump to reach an agreement with Canada.
Furthermore, Canadian officials expressed disappointment over what they called an overreaction to a provincial government ad.
Meanwhile, Ontario’s government has not commented directly on Trump’s remarks but defended the message of free trade within the ad, saying it reflects long-standing conservative economic principles.
