Trump halts all trade negotiations with Canada after an Ontario government advert featuring Ronald Reagan’s anti-tariff remarks sparks controversy.
US President Donald Trump has suspended all trade talks with Canada after a controversial advert by Ontario used excerpts from a 1987 Ronald Reagan speech criticising tariffs.
The minute-long video features Reagan warning that “trade barriers hurt every American,” comments taken from his Address to the Nation on Free and Fair Trade. Though the ad did not alter Reagan’s words, it rearranged their order for emphasis.
Trump called the ad “FAKE,” accusing Canada of manipulating the former president’s message, while the Ronald Reagan Foundation said it “misrepresents” the original speech.
The Ontario government defended the campaign, saying it highlights the benefits of free trade amid growing tensions over tariffs.
Reagan’s 1987 address was originally aimed at Japan, not Canada, and urged cooperation rather than restrictions. Trump’s decision marks the sharpest disruption in US-Canada trade relations since his administration began renegotiating existing agreements.