'All trade negotiations with Canada are terminated': Trump ends talks after dispute over controversial ad featuring Reagan

US President Donald Trump announced an immediate end to all trade talks with Canada, citing an ad that misrepresented former US President Ronald Reagan. Trump accused Ottawa of falsely quoting Reagan in an ad campaign aimed at criticising US tariffs. “The Ronald Reagan Foundation has confirmed that Canada used a fabricated advertisement with Reagan’s voice, making false claims about tariffs,” Trump posted on Truth Social. “This was an attempt to influence the Supreme Court’s decisions and other legal proceedings. Tariffs are crucial for US national security and economic stability. Due to these actions, all trade negotiations with Canada are now terminated.”

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The controversial ad escalates tensions

In Canada, Ontario launched an anti-tariff campaign featuring an excerpt from a 1987 radio address by Reagan, originally aimed at justifying tariffs on Japanese electronics. The ad warns of the dangers of long-term tariffs, predicting negative consequences like trade wars and economic collapse. The ad aired on networks such as Newsmax and Bloomberg, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a $75 million budget for the campaign, aiming to spread the message across Republican districts in the United States. Ford, a self-proclaimed Reagan admirer, emphasised the importance of this issue for Canada's economic interests.