By Ayo Kehinde
U.S President, Donald Trump, has announced the termination of all trade negotiations between the United States and Canada, citing a controversial advertisement released by Ontario’s government as the trigger for the breakdown.
In a post late Thursday, on his Truth social media platform, Trump declared that “all trade negotiations with Canada are hereby terminated”, insisting that tariffs are “vital to the national security and economy” of the United States.
The decision follows backlash over a C$75 million advertisement aired by Ontario, which featured alleged manipulated clips of former U.S. President, Ronald Reagan, appearing to criticise tariffs. Trump condemned the ad as “fake” and accused the province of trying to meddle in American trade policy.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation also criticised the commercial, stating that Ontario used Reagan’s 1987 remarks without authorisation and distorted his original message promoting fair trade.
The abrupt end to talks marks a major setback for U.S.-Canada trade relations, which have already been strained by disputes over steel, aluminum, and automobile tariffs. Negotiations had aimed to smooth tensions ahead of the scheduled 2026 review of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, reacted cautiously, saying Canada “will not allow unfair treatment in its trade dealings” and remains committed to defending its economic interests.
