U.S. President Donald Trump has abruptly announced the termination of all trade negotiations with Canada after the Ontario government aired an advert criticizing his tariffs on Canadian imports.
The minute-long advert featured a quote from former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, who warned that tariffs “hurt every American.” Trump responded on social media, calling the video “FAKE” and “egregious,” declaring that trade talks were “HEREBY TERMINATED.”
The ad, which aired on major U.S. TV networks, was part of a C$75 million campaign opposing the tariffs that have heavily impacted Ontario’s industries. The province, Canada’s largest economy, has faced severe losses due to Trump’s 35% levy on many Canadian imports, alongside targeted tariffs of 50% on metals and 25% on automobiles.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, one of the most vocal critics of Trump’s trade policies, defended the campaign, writing that Canada would “never stop making the case against American tariffs.” The advert’s use of Reagan’s 1987 remarks prompted backlash from the Ronald Reagan Foundation, which accused Ontario of “misrepresenting” the late president’s message and said it was exploring legal options.
Trump cited the foundation’s statement and claimed the ad aimed to “interfere” with the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court ruling on the legality of his sweeping tariffs a decision that could redefine presidential authority over trade and potentially force Washington to refund billions in collected tariffs.
The abrupt collapse of talks deals a major setback to Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s efforts to ease U.S. tariffs through diplomacy. Neither Carney nor Ford has yet responded to Trump’s announcement.
This marks the second time Trump has halted trade discussions with Canada in 2025, following an earlier dispute over Ottawa’s proposed digital services tax targeting U.S. tech firms.
