By: The Trek News Desk
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced an immediate end to all trade negotiations with Canada, citing what he called “highly inappropriate behaviour” by the Ontario government.
The decision came after a controversial advertisement aired in the United States that used the voice of former President Ronald Reagan criticising tariffs.
Posting on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump wrote:
“Based on their egregious conduct, all trade negotiations with Canada are hereby terminated.”
The president has already imposed a 35% tariff on Canadian imports, though some goods covered under the USMCA trade deal, which Trump negotiated during his first term, remain exempt.
The Ad That Sparked the Dispute
The diplomatic row began when the Ontario government released a one-minute television ad quoting Reagan’s 1987 address on foreign trade. In the speech, Reagan warned that while tariffs might appear patriotic in the short term, “in the long run they destroy jobs and trigger trade wars.”
The ad portrayed high tariffs as harmful to both the American and Canadian economies. Ontario Premier Doug Ford defended the campaign, writing on social media:
“We’ll never stop standing up against American tariffs on Canada.”
The campaign reportedly cost C$75 million, airing across major U.S. television networks.
Reagan Foundation Pushes Back
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation issued a sharp response, saying that the Ontario government had “used and edited President Reagan’s words and image without permission.”
The foundation added that the ad “misrepresents” Reagan’s original intent and confirmed that it is reviewing potential legal actions.
Political and Economic Fallout
Premier Doug Ford has been a long-time critic of Trump’s trade policies, calling U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods “a knife pulled and driven into us.” Earlier this year, Ford warned it might even cut power exports to the U.S. if the situation worsened.
Canada’s steel and automotive industries, both heavily reliant on U.S. markets, have suffered the most under Trump’s trade restrictions.
In a twist, China’s embassy in Washington had also shared a similar clip of Reagan earlier this year to challenge Trump’s global tariff agenda.
All Eyes on the Supreme Court
The controversy unfolds as the U.S. Supreme Court prepares for a crucial November ruling that could determine whether Trump’s sweeping global tariffs are legally valid.
The decision is expected to be a defining moment for Trump’s economic agenda and a test of presidential authority over trade policy.
Source: News Agencies
