US, Oct 24 : In a dramatic escalation of tensions with Ottawa, US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced the suspension of all trade negotiations with Canada, accusing the country of “egregious behaviour” following a controversial television advertisement that criticised US tariffs.
“The Ronald Reagan Foundation has just announced that Canada has fraudulently used an advertisement which is FAKE featuring Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about tariffs. Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED,” Trump said on Truth Social.
The 60-second ad, reportedly produced by the Ontario government under Premier Doug Ford, uses Reagan’s 1987 radio address warning about the dangers of protectionism. Reagan’s voice warns, “High tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars… Markets shrink and collapse, businesses shut down, and millions lose their jobs.”
Premier Doug Ford defended the campaign, revealing that his government spent $75 million targeting Republican districts across the US to highlight the economic risks of tariffs. “We’re just going to speak the truth,” Ford said. “It’s not a nasty ad. It’s factual. And coming from someone like Ronald Reagan, every Republican will recognize that voice.”
However, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation condemned the advertisement, calling it a “misrepresentation” of Reagan’s words and stating that Ontario officials neither sought nor received permission to use the material. The Foundation is reportedly reviewing legal options against the Ontario government.
The move further strains already fragile US-Canada trade relations. Analysts warn that the suspension of negotiations could derail efforts to update key cross border trade frameworks and reignite tensions reminiscent of the 2018 tariff standoff. Earlier this week, Canadian officials announced plans to double exports to non-US markets in response to Trump’s tariffs.