President Donald Trump said on Thursday that he was terminating all trade negotiations with Canada immediately after the government of Ontario produced an ad campaign that criticized his tariff policy.
The minute-long ad, which was posted on X by Ontario’s premier Doug Ford on October 16, featured excerpts from a speech given by the late President Ronald Reagan in 1987.
“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.
“TARIFFS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY, AND ECONOMY, OF THE USA,” he added. “Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.”
Representatives for the White House, the Office of the Prime Minister of Canada, and the Office of the Premier of Ontario did not respond to requests for comment from Business Insider.
Reagan’s full remarks, which first aired on the radio on April 25, 1987, started off with him explaining his decision to impose tariffs on Japan before he laid out the downsides of tariffs and the benefits of free trade. The advertisement from Ontario focused on the latter half of Reagan’s remarks.
“The ad misrepresents the Presidential Radio Address, and the Government of Ontario did not seek nor receive permission to use and edit the remarks,” the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute said in a statement posted on Truth Social on Thursday.
The organization added that it was “reviewing its legal options in this matter.”
A spokesperson for Ontario’s premier said in a statement to CBC News that the ad featured “an unedited excerpt” from one of Reagan’s speeches that is “available through public domain.”
“Reagan knew and spoke directly to Americans that tariffs hurt the US economy, workers, and families. He was a strong supporter of free and fair trade between Canada and America,” the statement added, per CBC.
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Trump said in his Truth Social post on Thursday that Canada released the ad because it wanted “to interfere with the decision of the US Supreme Court, and other courts.”
The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on the legality of Trump’s tariffs on November 5. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a filing to the Supreme Court in September that the Trump administration may have to refund up to $1 trillion in tariff revenue if the court strikes down the president’s tariffs.
This isn’t the first time Trump has threatened to halt trade negotiations with Canada.
Earlier, on June 27, Trump said in a Truth Social post that he was “terminating ALL discussions on Trade with Canada, effective immediately,” after Canada said it was going to impose a digital services tax on US technology companies.
Trade talks between both countries resumed after Canada scrapped the tax measure two days after Trump made his threat.
Canada is the top buyer of US exports and the country’s second-largest trading partner. In March, Trump imposed a 25% tariff on Canada, which in turn responded with a 25% reciprocal tariff on US goods. Trump said his tariffs were meant to compel Canada to combat drug trafficking and strengthen its border control measures.
Trump said on July 31 that he was raising tariff rates on Canada to 35%, adding that it was because Canada “has failed to cooperate in curbing the ongoing flood of fentanyl and other illicit drugs.”
On September 1, Canada said it was removing its 25% counter tariff on US goods, except for steel, aluminum, and automobiles.
