President Trump halted all trade talks with Canada, citing a “fraudulent” Ontario government and misrepresenting former President Reagan’s views.
US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday, 23 October 2025, that his administration has terminated all trade negotiations with Canada, citing a “fraudulent” advertisement as the reason.
The ad, created by Ontario’s government, featured edited footage of late President Ronald Reagan criticising tariffs, which Trump claimed misrepresented Reagan’s views.
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation condemned the ad, stating it used selective audio and video without permission and was exploring legal action.
“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 $75,000,000. 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!”, Trump posted on Truth Social.
This development follows months of tension between the US and Canada, sparked by Trump’s tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminium, and autos, which led to retaliatory measures from Ottawa. Both nations had been in discussions to resolve issues in the steel and aluminum sectors, but Trump’s announcement abruptly ended those talks.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford acknowledged the ad had caught Trump’s attention, further escalating the situation.
Meanwhile, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney emphasised that Canada would not allow unfair US access to its markets if trade negotiations fail.
The US, Canada, and Mexico are set to review their 2020 free-trade agreement next year, adding another layer of complexity to the strained trade relations.
