Petulant Donald Trump has decided to halt all trade negotiations with Canada due to his objection to television advertisements. The President believes that the ads, which he considers to exhibit “egregious behavior,” are designed to influence US court decisions and oppose tariffs. Trade tensions between the US and Canada have been escalating for months, and Trump’s sudden termination of negotiations is likely to worsen the situation.
On Truth Social, Trump, aged 79, claimed that the Ronald Reagan Foundation revealed that Canada used a fraudulent advertisement featuring Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about tariffs. The President accused Canada of using the ad, valued at $75,000, to interfere with US court decisions. Trump emphasized the importance of tariffs to national security and the economy, declaring that all trade negotiations with Canada are now terminated.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had previously expressed plans to double his country’s exports outside the US in response to Trump’s tariffs. However, Carney’s office has not yet responded to Trump’s decision, as the Prime Minister is currently attending a summit in Asia. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute denounced an ad by the government of Ontario as misrepresenting a past presidential address on trade, indicating that legal actions are being considered.
Despite Trump’s efforts to ease trade tensions with Canada, particularly regarding the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, disagreements persist. Over three-quarters of Canadian exports are directed to the US, with billions of dollars worth of goods crossing the border daily. Trump recently criticized a Canadian ad on television, suggesting that it demonstrated the impact of his tariffs. In response, Ontario’s premier, Doug Ford, launched an advertising campaign against American tariffs, emphasizing the importance of collaboration for prosperity.