United States President Donald Trump has terminated Canada trade talks, citing an anti-tariff advertising campaign
The ad, sponsored by the provincial government of Ontario, used excerpts from a 1987 radio address by former President Ronald Reagan to criticize the economic impact of high tariffs.
Reagan, in the ad, was quoted as saying that tariffs work “only for a short time” and “hurt every American worker and consumer.”
“High tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars,” Reagan said, as quoted by the ad.
Trump, taking to his account on Truth Social announced his decision to terminate trade talks with Canada, throwing the future of U.S.-Canadian trade relations into uncertainty.
“Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED,” the president wrote on Truth Social.
Giving further updates after Trump terminated Canada trade talks, White House spokesman Kush Desai said in a statement on Friday that the U.S government “has repeatedly sought to address Canada’s longstanding, unfair trade barriers.”
“These good-faith efforts with Canadian officials have not led to any constructive progress,” Desai said. “Ontario’s taxpayer-funded ad campaign on American TV networks — that misleadingly edited President Reagan’s 1987 radio address about trade — is the latest example of how Canadian officials would rather play games than engage with the administration. As President Trump made clear on Truth Social, further talks are a futile effort if Canada can’t be serious.”
Meanwhile, shortly after Trump terminated Canada trade talks, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said he is ready to revive negotiations.
He said: “We can’t control the trade policy of the United States,” but his government has sought to make progress on trade negotiations.
“We stand ready to pick up on that progress and build on that progress when the Americans are ready to have those discussions,” he added.
Similarly, Doug Ford, Ontario’s premier, wrote Friday of the close ties between the U.S. and Canada.
“Canada and the United States are friends, neighbours, and allies. President Ronald Reagan knew that we are stronger together. God bless Canada and God bless the United States,” Ford said in a social media post.
Earlier Thursday, the Ronald Reagan Foundation said in a statement that the ad used “selective audio” and “misrepresents the Presidential Radio Address.” The foundation also said the government of Ontario didn’t seek permission to use snippets from Reagan’s address, and said it is “reviewing its legal options in this matter.”
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that the development comes amidst a strained relationship between the U.S and Canada.
Earlier this year, Trump hiked tariffs on Canada to 35%, though a large share of goods are exempt because they’re covered by the 2020 U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement.
Back in March, Canada imposed 25% retaliatory tariffs on many U.S. products not covered by the USMCA. But in August, as part of efforts to reach a deal on tariffs, Carney said those retaliatory tariffs were being lifted. The two nations have yet to reach such a deal.
