In a stunning diplomatic turn, President Donald Trump has terminated all ongoing trade talks with Canada, calling the Ontario government’s recent anti-tariffs advertisement “egregious and deliberately misleading.”
The controversy erupted after Ontario officials released a televised ad opposing Trump’s signature tariffs on aluminum and steel. The ad featured archival audio of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, apparently criticizing trade barriers. However, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute quickly condemned the campaign, saying it had manipulated Reagan’s 1987 remarks by using “selective audio clips” that distorted his original message.
“This is not only dishonest—it’s disrespectful to President Reagan’s legacy,” the Foundation said in a statement, clarifying that Reagan’s comments had, in fact, been made in support of fair and reciprocal trade, not blanket opposition to tariffs.
President Trump responded sharply, accusing the Canadian provincial government of attempting to “interfere with U.S. legal proceedings” ahead of next week’s Supreme Court hearings on the constitutionality of his tariffs policy.
“This was a calculated, political stunt,” Trump said from the White House. “It’s egregious behavior from a foreign government trying to sway American courts. Trade talks are now over.”
Canadian officials have yet to issue a formal response, though sources in Ottawa expressed “disappointment” over what they called a “disproportionate reaction” from Washington.
The breakdown of talks marks a significant escalation in U.S.–Canada economic tensions, potentially threatening billions in cross-border trade. Analysts warn the fallout could ripple across both economies, particularly in manufacturing and energy sectors already strained by tariff uncertainty.
For now, the White House maintains its stance: no further negotiations until Canada “acknowledges and retracts the misleading use” of Reagan’s image and words.
