A provincial advertising campaign from Ontario, Canada, has spiraled into a full-blown diplomatic crisis. President Trump has “hereby terminated” all trade negotiations with the US ally in response.
The ad, aimed at a US audience, used a 1987 clip of Ronald Reagan warning about the dangers of trade barriers. Ontario premier Doug Ford launched the campaign to fight back against US tariffs on Canadian goods, which Trump recently raised to 35%.
Trump declared the ad “fake” on social media and accused Canada of trying to influence US supreme court hearings on the tariffs. “Canada cheated and got caught,” Trump posted.
This move freezes a vital trade relationship, with nearly c$3.6 billion in goods and services crossing the border daily. Canadian prime minister Mark Carney has vowed to continue negotiating, while also seeking to diversify Canada’s export markets.
The ad’s legitimacy is also under fire. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation stated the ad “misrepresents” the former president’s comments, which were made while justifying his own tariffs on Japan, and that legal options are being considered.