Trump Halts US-Canada Trade Talks Over Controversial Ontario Ad

Trade tensions between the United States and Canada have deepened after former President Donald Trump announced that trade talks between the two nations would not resume. The move came in response to a political advertisement aired by Ontario’s government, which featured late US President Ronald Reagan warning that tariffs could lead to “disaster.”

Speaking to reporters on Friday, Trump said he was “deeply disappointed” by the ad, describing it as “fake and misleading.” He revealed that Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney had personally apologised for the advertisement but confirmed that Washington would not restart negotiations. “I like him a lot, but what they did was wrong,” Trump said. “He apologised because it was a false commercial.”

The advertisement, launched by Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s administration, used clips of Reagan’s past speeches to highlight the dangers of protectionist trade policies. However, Trump accused the Canadian side of “splicing” Reagan’s remarks to portray him negatively and reignite criticism of US tariffs.

Last week, Trump responded by calling off ongoing trade talks and announced a 10 percent increase in tariffs on Canadian goods. He argued that the video campaign was a direct attempt to undermine his trade policy, which he says protects American jobs.

The controversy has caused fresh strain in the long-standing trade relationship between the two neighbours. Canada remains the largest export market for the United States, with nearly three-quarters of Canadian exports heading south of the border. But the recent tariff hikes have disrupted trade flows and created uncertainty for businesses on both sides.

Doug Ford’s office has since suspended the advertisement campaign, saying it wanted to “create space for dialogue.” Carney has also expressed readiness for renewed talks, though no formal discussions have been scheduled yet.

The dispute marks another flashpoint in the turbulent economic relationship between the US and Canada, one that has been tested by trade wars, tariff disputes, and political differences in recent years.