By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – US President Donald Trump on Friday night announced that he was terminating all trade negotiations with Canada, accused the country of “egregious behaviour” after the airing of a controversial television advertisement criticizing US tariffs in a dramatic escalation of tensions with Ottawa.
“The Ronald Reagan Foundation has just announced that Canada has fraudulently used an advertisement — which is FAKE — featuring Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about tariffs,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.”
The move came shortly after Trump said he had personally seen the ad on television and viewed it as proof that his tariff policies were “having an impact.”
The 60-second commercial, reportedly produced by the Ontario government under Premier Doug Ford, uses audio from Ronald Reagan’s 1987 radio address warning about the dangers of protectionism.
In the ad, Reagan’s voice is heard declaring: “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.”
The ad showed the set to images of Canadian factory workers, small business owners, and families, the ad delivers a pointed message against tariffs while invoking Reagan’s reputation as a champion of free trade.
Premier Doug Ford revealed earlier this month that his government spent $75 million on the campaign, which he said was aimed at “every Republican district across the United States.”
“We’re just going to speak the truth,” Ford said during a speech at Toronto’s Empire Club. “It’s not a nasty ad. It’s factual. And coming from someone like Ronald Reagan, every Republican will recognize that voice.”
The advertisement has sparked sharp backlash in Washington.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute condemned the ad, calling it a “misrepresentation” of Reagan’s words and stating that Ontario officials had neither sought nor received permission to use or edit the material.
“The ad misrepresents the Presidential Radio Address,” the Foundation said in a statement on X, added that it was reviewing legal options against the Ontario government.
The diplomatic fallout has strained already disturbed trade ties between Washington and Ottawa.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his government would double exports to non-US markets to counter the economic risks posed by Trump’s tariffs.
The analysts warned that the dispute could derail efforts to update key cross-border trade frameworks and reignite tensions reminiscent of the 2018 tariff standoff between the two countries, with trade negotiations now suspended.
