Trump Ends Canada Trade Talks Over ‘Fake’ Reagan Anti-Tariff Ad
The US President's announcement on Truth Social, threatens to throw U.S.-Canada relations into disarray.
US President Donald Trump announced the immediate termination of all trade negotiations with Canada on Friday morning, citing an alleged fraudulent use of a 'fake advertisement' featuring Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about tariffs.
Trump's announcement on Truth Social threatens to throw U.S.-Canada relations into disarray.
"The Ronald Reagan Foundation has just announced that Canada has fraudulently used an advertisement, which is FAKE, featuring Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about Tariffs. The ad was for $75,000. They only did this to interfere with the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, and other courts. 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. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DJT," [sic] Trump wrote on his social media platform.
In the fiery post, Trump stated that the Ronald Reagan Foundation had announced that Canada "fraudulently used an advertisement," which he claims was for $75,000.
While the former President cited a small figure, media reports have confirmed that the Canadian province of Ontario recently launched a multi-million-dollar anti-tariff campaign in the U.S. that utilises audio from a 1987 speech by the late Republican president, where he warns about the destructive nature of protectionism. The ad campaign was reportedly aimed at influencing the American public and political opinion against new U.S. tariffs.
The Canadian dollar decreased significantly after the post.
An anti-tariff ad was issued in Ontario which used an address made by former US president and Republican Ronald Reagan. The 1-minute ad cites a 1987 radio address by Reagan, where he justified 100% tariffs on Japanese electronics due to a semiconductor trade dispute. Interestingly, the ad also highlights Reagan's warning about the long-term dangers of tariffs on US imports.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation Reacts
In response to Trump's declaration, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation's on X (formerly Twitter) addressed Ontario's unauthorised use of an edited 1987 radio address clip in a $75 million anti-tariff ad campaign targeting U.S. Republicans, alleging it misrepresents Reagan's balanced views on free and fair trade.
The post read, "The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute learned that the Government of Ontario, Canada, created an ad campaign using selective audio and video of President Ronald Reagan delivering his 'Radio Address to the Nation on Free and Fair Trade,' dated April 25, 1987."
"The ad misrepresents the Presidential Radio Address, and the Government of Ontario did not seek nor receive permission to use and edit the remarks. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is reviewing its legal options in this matter. We encourage you to watch President Reagan's unedited video on our YouTube channel," added the post.
