An ad from Ontario, Canada, designed to protest US tariffs has backfired, leading president Trump to “terminate” all trade negotiations with the country.
The ad featured a 1987 clip of Ronald Reagan warning that “trade barriers hurt every American worker.” Trump immediately denounced the ad as “fake” and “fraudulent.”
He accused Canada of “egregious behavior” and interference in US legal matters. The move comes as a blow to Canadian pm mark carney, who has been trying to ease tensions over the 35% tariffs.
The ad’s use of the speech has also been criticized by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. They said the “selective audio” “misrepresents” the full speech and that they are exploring legal options.
The halt in talks, confirmed by secretary of state Marco Rubio, freezes a c$3.6 billion daily trade relationship, with Ontario’s economy hit hardest.
