US President Donald Trump has announced an immediate end to all trade negotiations with Canada, accusing the country of 'egregious behaviour' over a television advertisement that quotes former US president Ronald Reagan criticising tariffs. The ad, paid for by the government of the Canadian province of Ontario, uses excerpts from a 1987 speech where Reagan says 'trade barriers hurt every American worker'.
Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that Canada had 'fraudulently used an advertisment' which he called 'FAKE', and accused the country of trying to interfere with US court decisions on the levies. 'Based on their egregious behavior, all trade negotiations with Canada are hereby terminated,' he wrote. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed on Friday that all trade talks with Ottawa had been suspended.
The US originally imposed a 25% tariff on imports of Canadian goods including timber, steel, aluminium and cars in the spring, prompting retaliatory action from Ottawa. The rate was raised to 35% by Trump in August. Ontario has been particularly badly hit by the escalating trade war, and the province's premier, Doug Ford, launched the advertising campaign featuring Reagan's comments earlier in October.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute said in a statement that Ontario did not seek or receive permission to include the clips, and that the advert used 'selective audio and video' and 'misrepresents' Reagan's comments. Trump cited the foundation's criticism in his Truth Social post. Ford wrote on X on Friday: 'Canada and the United States are friends, neighbours and allies. President Ronald Reagan knew that we are stronger together.'
Canada's prime minister, Mark Carney, has said he was 'disappointed' by Trump's decision to raise tariffs in August. More than three-quarters of Canadian exports go to the US, and almost C$3.6bn (£1.9bn) worth of goods and services cross the border daily. Carney has said he would continue to negotiate with the US while diversifying export markets.
