Trump says he’s ending trade talks with Canada because of Reagan ad

President Donald Trump said Thursday he was ending all trade negotiations with Canada immediately after the Ontario government launched an ad campaign criticizing his tariff policies.

The one-minute ad, posted on X by Ontario Premier Doug Ford on October 16, featured excerpts from a speech given by the late President Ronald Reagan in 1987.

“The Ronald Reagan Foundation just announced that Canada fraudulently used a FALSE ad, featuring Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about tariffs,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“TARIFFS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO NATIONAL SECURITY AND THE UNITED STATES ECONOMY,” he added. “Due to 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 Business Insider’s requests for comment.

Reagan’s full remarks, first broadcast on radio on April 25, 1987, began with an explanation of his decision to impose tariffs on Japan before outlining the disadvantages of tariffs and the advantages of free trade. The Ontario ad focused on the second half of Reagan’s remarks.

“The ad misrepresents the President’s radio address, and the Ontario government has not requested or received permission to use and edit the remarks,” the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute said in a statement published Thursday on Truth Social.

The organization added that it was “reviewing its legal options in this matter.”

A spokesperson for the Ontario premier said in a statement to CBC News that the ad features “an unedited excerpt” from one of Reagan’s speeches that is “available in the public domain.”

“Reagan knew and spoke directly to Americans that tariffs harm the U.S. economy, workers and families. He was a strong supporter of free and fair trade between Canada and America,” the statement added, according to CBC.

Trump said in his Truth Social post on Thursday that Canada released the ad because it wanted to “interfere with the decision of the United States Supreme Court and other courts.”

The Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on the legality of Trump’s tariffs on November 5. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a Supreme Court filing in September that the Trump administration could have to repay up to $1 trillion in tariff revenue if the court overturns the president’s tariffs.

This is not the first time Trump has threatened to end trade negotiations with Canada.

Earlier, on June 27, Trump said in a Truth Social article that he was “ending ALL discussions on trade with Canada, effective immediately,” after Canada announced it would impose a digital services tax on U.S. technology companies.

Trade talks between the two countries resumed after Canada dropped the tax measure, two days after Trump made his threat.

Canada is the largest buyer of U.S. exports and the country’s second-largest trading partner. In March, Trump imposed 25% tariffs on Canada, which responded by imposing reciprocal 25% tariffs on American products. Trump said his tariffs were aimed at forcing Canada to combat drug trafficking and strengthen its border control measures.

Trump said on July 31 that he would increase tariffs on Canada to 35 percent, adding that it was because Canada “has failed to cooperate in curbing the continued flow of fentanyl and other illicit drugs.”

On September 1, Canada announced it was removing its 25% tariffs on American products, with the exception of steel, aluminum and automobiles.