President Donald Trump abruptly ended trade negotiations with Canada on Thursday, claiming a new advertisement from Ontario was an attempt to sway the U.S. Supreme Court ahead of a key ruling on his tariff policies.
The announcement came via Trump’s Truth Social account shortly after Ontario premiered a U.S.-targeted television ad featuring excerpts from a 1987 radio address by President Ronald Reagan. In the spot, Reagan warned Americans of the long-term dangers of protectionism.
“They only did this to interfere with the decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, and other courts,” Trump posted, referring to the high court’s November 5 hearing on legal challenges to his reciprocal tariff measures—central pillars of his economic agenda, reported NBC News.
The ad, promoted online by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, begins with Reagan’s words: “When someone says, ‘Let’s impose tariffs on foreign imports,’ it looks like they’re doing the patriotic thing by protecting American products and jobs, and sometimes for a short while it works, but only for a short time.” Reagan continues, “But over the long run, such trade barriers hurt every American worker and consumer.”
He adds, “Then the worst happens, markets shrink and collapse, businesses and industries shut down, and millions of people lose their jobs.” The clip concludes: “Throughout the world, there’s a growing realization that the way to prosperity for all nations is rejecting protectionist legislation and promoting fair and free competition. America’s jobs and growth are at stake.”
The commercial aired during the American League Championship Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners, reaching more than nine million viewers on Fox Sports.
It’s official: Ontario’s new advertising campaign in the U.S. has launched.
Using every tool we have, we’ll never stop making the case against American tariffs on Canada. The way to prosperity is by working together.
Watch our new ad. pic.twitter.com/SgIVC1cqMJ
— Doug Ford (@fordnation) October 16, 2025
The Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute quickly pushed back, saying it was “reviewing its legal options” and asserting that “the ad misrepresents the Presidential Radio Address, and the Government of Ontario did not seek nor receive permission to use and edit the remarks.”
Ford later posted the full Reagan speech from the presidential library’s YouTube channel, writing, “Canada and the United States are friends, neighbours and allies. President Ronald Reagan knew that we are stronger together. God bless Canada and God bless the United States.”
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s office declined to comment.
The move marks Trump’s second suspension of trade discussions with Canada this year. In June, he announced he was “terminating ALL discussions on trade with Canada,” citing disputes over U.S. technology firms and dairy producers. Ottawa retaliated with steel import quotas, calling them a response to “unjust U.S. tariffs,” according to Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne.
Canada remains America’s third-largest trading partner, with more than $410 billion in goods imported last year. The cross-border economy—particularly the automotive sector—depends on integrated supply chains, though the Trump administration has continued urging U.S. manufacturers to reduce reliance on foreign production.
