Trump Ends Canada Trade Talks Over ‘Fake’ Anti-Tariff Ad
US President Donald Trump has announced the immediate termination of trade negotiations with Canada, accusing the country of producing a “fake” anti-tariff advertisement featuring former US President Ronald Reagan.
Trump made the declaration on Thursday via his Truth Social platform, describing the ad — sponsored by Ontario province and scheduled to air on US television — as a deliberate attempt to “interfere with the decision of the US Supreme Court” ahead of a ruling on his global tariff policies.
“Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED,” Trump wrote.
The move marks a sharp turnaround just weeks after a cordial White House meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, where both leaders discussed possible tariff relaxations.
The Ronald Reagan Foundation confirmed that the Ontario government had misused selective clips from Reagan’s 1987 radio address on trade, saying the edited footage “misrepresents” his views. The foundation said it was “reviewing its legal options” against the misleading ad.
In the original speech, Reagan warned that high tariffs could trigger retaliation and trade wars — remarks that were accurately quoted but allegedly used out of context.
Carney, who has not commented on Trump’s latest move, said in a budget speech on Wednesday that Washington’s “fundamentally changed” trade policy required Ottawa to overhaul its economic strategy.
He added that the rise in US tariffs — “to levels last seen during the Great Depression” — represented an economic “rupture” that would demand “sacrifices and time” to address.
Trump’s sweeping global tariffs on steel, aluminium, and autos have significantly affected Canadian industries, causing job losses and higher business costs.
Despite the breakdown in talks, both countries remain bound by the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which keeps about 85 percent of bilateral trade tariff-free.
Carney, who had earlier expressed optimism about reaching a new trade deal, is expected to meet Trump again at upcoming international summits in Malaysia and South Korea.
Canada, a key supplier of steel and aluminium to US manufacturers, has also faced inflation pressures, with grocery prices pushing the country’s annual inflation rate to 2.4 percent in September.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
