US President Donald Trump announced the cancellation of all trade talks with Canada after accusing Ottawa of running a “fake ad” featuring former US President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariff policies.
Trump said the decision was made in response to Canada’s “outrageous behavior,” after the ad used a 1987 recording of Reagan supposedly opposing tariffs on foreign goods.
Trump said on his Truth Social platform that due to their “outrageous actions,” all trade talks with Canada are now terminated.
The dispute arose after the United States imposed tariffs on steel, aluminum and vehicles from Canada earlier this year, prompting Ottawa to retaliate.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford confirmed the ad came from his province, which was intended to highlight the negative effects of tariffs on the economy and jobs.
However, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation denied involvement and accused the Ontario government of selectively using Reagan’s audio and video recordings without official permission.
The foundation said it was considering legal action because the ad allegedly distorted Reagan's 1987 radio address.
The Canadian government has not yet made any official comment on Trump's announcement.
Analysts expect the decision to add pressure on trade relations between the two countries, especially ahead of a review of the United States-Canada-Mexico free trade agreement (USMCA) scheduled for next year.
