Donald Trump has announced an immediate end to all trade talks with Canada after a TV advertisement from Ontario used a quote from former U.S. president Ronald Reagan to criticize his tariffs. The decision came right after Trump ranted about it on Truth Social, calling the ad “fraudulent” and accusing Canada of “egregious behavior,” according to The Guardian.
The ad that caused all this came from the Ontario government. The province has been hit hard by the ongoing trade war with the U.S., and the campaign was meant to show how tariffs hurt both sides. In the commercial, a 1987 clip of Reagan’s voice plays over images of workers, families, and trade ports, saying, “Trade barriers hurt every American worker.” The message was simple: free trade helps everyone.
But Trump didn’t take it that way. He claimed Canada “fraudulently used” the ad and accused them of trying to interfere with U.S. court hearings about his global tariffs. His post read, “Based on their egregious behavior, all trade negotiations with Canada are hereby terminated.”
A few hours later, Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed that the talks with Ottawa had indeed been suspended. Trump then went back online and added that “Canada cheated and got caught,” saying the ad was meant to sway the Supreme Court before its upcoming tariff hearing on November 5.
From Canada’s point of view, the frustration makes sense. The U.S. slapped a 25% tariff on Canadian goods like timber, steel, aluminum, and cars earlier this year, and then Trump raised it to 35% in August. Ontario’s premier, Doug Ford, has been outspoken about the damage these taxes have caused. When he launched the ad campaign, he wrote on Instagram, “We’ll never stop making the case against American tariffs on Canada. The way to prosperity is by working together.”
The minute-long ad, set to Reagan’s 1987 speech, was aimed at Americans. It used scenes of everyday life and trade between both countries, ending with a message of unity and cooperation. The quote Reagan used back then feels almost ironic now. He said, “When someone says, ‘Let’s impose tariffs on foreign imports,’ it looks patriotic. But over the long run, such trade barriers hurt every American worker and consumer.”
What was meant as a thoughtful appeal for fair trade turned into an international shouting match. And just like that, one advertisement quoting a Republican icon has brought U.S.-Canada negotiations to a grinding halt.
