President Donald Trump has suddenly stopped all trade talks with Canada after a fight over a politically charged TV ad. The ad showed parts of a speech by former President Ronald Reagan from 1987 against tariffs. The Ontario government paid for the controversial ad, which criticizes current U.S. tariffs. Trump has aggressively imposed these tariffs on Canadian goods like steel, aluminum, and cars.
As part of a $75 million campaign to raise awareness of the bad effects of tariffs on free and fair trade, the ad ran on many major U.S. networks. It has Reagan’s voice talking about how high tariffs start trade wars, raise prices, and eventually cost Americans jobs. Even though Reagan was known to support free trade in general, President Trump called the ad “fake” and said Canada was acting “egregiously.” He also said that all trade talks are now “hereby terminated.”
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute also spoke out, saying that the ad did not accurately represent Reagan’s full remarks. They noted that the Ontario government did not have permission to use or change the speech. The foundation is said to be looking into legal options and has told people to watch Reagan’s original, unedited speech.
Doug Ford, the Premier of Canada, defended the ad as true and in line with Reagan’s legacy. He stressed how important it was in fighting the tariffs that have hurt Ontario’s economy. The ad’s timing is perfect because the Toronto Blue Jays are playing in the 2025 World Series. This adds a sense of national pride and attention to the trade conflict.
This sudden end to talks makes the trade tensions between the US and Canada even worse. Both countries are dealing with difficult economic and political problems related to tariffs, trade barriers, and international agreements.
