US President Donald Trump announced late Thursday the immediate termination of trade negotiations with Canada, citing a government-funded television ad from Ontario that included an old audio of former President Ronald Reagan speaking critically about tariffs.
Trump posted on his Truth Social platform, "Tariffs are very important to the national security, and economy, of the U.S.A." "Based on their egregious behavior, all trade negotiations with Canada are hereby terminated."
Trump claimed that Canada had fraudulently used a fake ad featuring Reagan’s remarks against tariffs, alleging that the ad was intended to influence the Supreme Court and other courts currently reviewing the legality of his broad tariff measures.
He also warned of “disaster” should the Supreme Court overturn his tariffs, saying such a move could force the US government to refund billions of dollars in collected duties to companies.
The disputed ad reportedly featured excerpts from a 1987 Reagan speech defending free trade principles and criticizing tariffs for stifling innovation, raising prices, and harming American workers.
This development comes two weeks after Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s visit to the White House, which ended without any concrete trade agreement despite earlier signs of progress.
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