President Trump has accused Canada of cheating, declaring that the country “got caught” using a “fraudulent” ad, and has terminated all trade negotiations as a result.
The ad, sponsored by Ontario, used a 1987 clip of Ronald Reagan warning that “trade barriers hurt every American worker.” Trump alleged the ad was a “fake” attempt to influence US supreme court hearings on his tariffs.
This decision escalates a trade war that has seen the US impose 35% tariffs on Canadian goods like steel and timber. Ontario, a major industrial center, has been severely affected.
Secretary of state Marco Rubio confirmed that negotiations with ottawa are suspended. This comes as a blow to Canadian prime minister mark carney, who recently met with Trump to ease tensions.
The ad is also facing backlash from the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. The foundation stated the “selective audio” distorts Reagan’s full 1987 speech and that it is considering legal action.