Trump Ends Trade Talks with Canada Over Ontario Reagan Ad

Tensions between the United States and Canada have escalated sharply after President Donald Trump abruptly announced an end to trade negotiations, accusing Canada of spreading a “fake” anti-tariff advertisement.

The ad, funded by Ontario’s government and aired on US television, used edited clips of former president Ronald Reagan warning about the dangers of high tariffs.

The Ronald Reagan Foundation condemned the ad, saying it misrepresented Reagan’s words and that legal action was under consideration.

Trump blasted the campaign as an attempt to “interfere” with a pending Supreme Court decision on his global tariffs, which have already strained economic ties between Washington and Ottawa.

The move comes barely two weeks after Trump hosted Prime Minister Mark Carney at the White House in what appeared to be a cordial meeting aimed at improving trade relations.

Carney had been seeking relief from steep tariffs on steel, aluminum, and automobiles — measures that have hit Canadian industries hard.

Despite the rift, both countries remain bound by the USMCA, which keeps 85% of cross-border trade tariff-free, though experts warn that the recent rupture could jeopardize future cooperation.