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Trump Terminates Trade Negotiations with Canada Over "Fake" Ad

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Donald Trump has ceased all trade negotiations with Canada after a late-night presidential fit over a TV ad sponsored by the government of Ontario, which uses a vintage Ronald Reagan anti-tariff speech. Trump claimed the ad was intended to interfere with the U.S. Supreme Court and other courts. Ontario's new advertising campaign in the U.S. aims to make the case against American tariffs on Canada.

Key Takeaways:

  • Trump terminated all trade negotiations with Canada citing the Ontario government's "egregious behavior" over a TV ad using a Ronald Reagan anti-tariff speech.
  • The ad, launched on Newsmax and Bloomberg, aims to make the case against American tariffs on Canada and was commissioned by the government of Ontario for $75 million.
  • Trump shared a post from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation claiming the video "misrepresents" the radio address and that the government of Ontario did not seek permission to use or "edit" the audio.
  • The ad uses a one-minute clip from Reagan's five-minute original speech in 1987, discussing the "message of free trade" and the consequences of high tariffs.
  • Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced the ad spend on Oct. 14, saying he would "repeat that message to every Republican district there is, right across the entire country."
  • Trump has imposed a 35 percent levy on Canadian imports, with an exemption on goods that fall under the free trade agreement negotiated with Canada and Mexico during his first term.
  • This is not the first time Trump has terminated trade discussions with Canada this year; he did so in June over Ottawa's plans to impose a digital services tax on American tech companies.

Statistics:

  • Trump terminated all trade negotiations with Canada on Thursday evening.
  • The ad uses a one-minute clip from Reagan's five-minute original speech in 1987.
  • Ontario Premier Doug Ford will spend $75 million on the ad campaign.
  • Trump imposed a 35 percent levy on Canadian imports.
  • The free trade agreement negotiated with Canada and Mexico during Trump's first term includes an exemption on certain goods.
  • Trump terminated trade discussions with Canada twice this year, also citing "egregious" reasons in the first instance.

Sources:

  • (https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115426967566430347)
  • (https://x.com/fordnation/status/1978779503213052337)
  • (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t5QK03KXPc&t=181s)
  • (https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/radio-address-nation-free-and-fair-trade-4)
  • (https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/article/doug-ford-says-ontario-spending-75m-to-run-anti-tariff-ads-in-us-featuring-clips-of-reagan/)
  • (https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cdjrlmd4pmeo)
  • (https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/114756567645919781)
  • (https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/24/trump-canada-trade-reagan.html)

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