Trump Halts Canada Trade Talks Following Dispute Over Ontario Ad Campaign
U.S. President Donald Trump says he is terminating trade talks with Canada, citing a recent Ontario government anti-tariff ad featuring late Republican president Ronald Reagan.
In a late-night post to Truth Social on Thursday, Mr. Trump referenced the advertisement which Ontario launched last week and said the Ronald Reagan Foundation announced that the advertisement is “fake.” He wrongly claimed the ad cost $75,000, but Ontario has said it is spending $75-million on the campaign.
“Based on their egregious behaviour, all trade negotiations with Canada are hereby terminated,” Mr. Trump wrote.
He also again defended tariffs, saying they are “very important to the national security, and economy, of the USA.”
The Ronald Reagan Foundation, in a post on X, said it learned that the Ontario government created an ad campaign “using selective audio and video” of Mr. Reagan delivering a radio address about free and fair trade on April 25, 1987.
“The ad misrepresents the Presidential Radio Address, and the Government of Ontario did not seek nor receive permission to use and edit the remarks,” it said.
“The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is reviewing its legal options in this matter.”
Listen to President Reagan’s unedited remarks here: https://t.co/1gQUcbR4eZ pic.twitter.com/iqmjSuypp0
— Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute (@RonaldReagan) October 24, 2025
Spokespeople for Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Prime Minister Mark Carney did not immediately respond to requests for comment Thursday.
The new 60-second TV ad features present-day images of families and workers, such as welders and bakers, and is voiced with Mr. Reagan’s April 25, 1987, radio address decrying American protectionism, saying such trade barriers hurt every American worker and consumer.
“High tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars,” Mr. Reagan says in the advertisement.
“Then the worst happens. Markets shrink and collapse, businesses and industries shut down, and millions of people lose their jobs. Throughout the world, there’s a growing realization that the way to prosperity for all nations is rejecting protectionist legislation and promoting fair and free competition.”
Mr. Ford touted the ad during a speech last week. He said the province intends to repeat the message “to every Republican district” in the U.S.
“We’re just going to speak the truth,” he said.
“That ad, it’s not a nasty ad. It’s actually just very factual. Coming from a person like Ronald Reagan, every Republican is going to identify that voice.”
The minute-long ad is much shorter than Mr. Reagan’s original address. It is edited, with certain passages presented out of order.
In Mr. Reagan’s original speech, the late president defended imposing duties on Japan during a trade dispute over semiconductors; he alleged Japan was failing to enforce Japanese companies’ violations of a trade agreement with the United States.
Mr. Reagan explained why tariffs are bad for the U.S. and hurt free trade, which is largely what the Ontario government quoted in its ad. However, Mr. Reagan also argued that his duties on Japan were justified “to stop unfair practices against American products,” while extolling the virtues of free trade overall.
In the speech, Mr. Reagan noted that he recently had positive discussions with Canadian leaders about free trade between the two countries. The U.S.-Canada Free Trade Agreement, the precursor to the North American Free Trade Agreement, was signed the following year.
Throughout the trade dispute with the U.S., Mr. Carney and Mr. Ford have at times appeared at odds in their approach with the Americans. The Ontario Premier has been pushing for retaliation, while the Prime Minister has dropped counter-tariffs and pushed a message of negotiation.
Earlier Thursday at a joint news conference, Mr. Ford said he supports the Prime Minister “1,000 per cent.”
“It might be a little easier for me to sit here and say what I say, but it’s a lot tougher when someone’s sitting across from Donald Trump and he has a big hammer in his hand,” Mr. Ford said.
He said the message Ontario is sending is “Ronald Reagan’s message” that protectionism does not work.
“Do I always believe we should be tough? 100 per cent we should be tough. But again, I have the confidence in the Prime Minister, I always have his back, and we are on the same page,” Mr. Ford said.
Mr. Carney said Thursday that Canada is currently engaged in “very detailed, specific, constructive” negotiations with the Americans on steel, aluminum and energy. He said the Americans are taking a sector-by-sector approach as opposed to a comprehensive one on trade.
Mr. Carney said he and the premiers are aware of the fact that the broader review of the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement is expected next year
“If we ultimately don’t make progress in these various sectors, we’re going to do what’s necessary to protect our workers,” he said.
This article was first reported by The Globe and Mail
