Oct. 23 (UPI) — President Donald Trump late Thursday terminated all trade negotiations with Canada over an ad campaign using a speech critical of tariffs by former U.S. President Ronald Reagan.
In the statement on his Truth Social media platform, Trump said, “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.”
Relations between the close allies have been greatly strained under the Trump administration over the president’s tariffs as well as remarks about making Canada the 51st state.
A trade tensions between the two have intensified, with the trade negotiations Trump severed intended to bring stability and calm to their partnership.
Last week, the government of Ontario, the Great White North’s most populated province and home to its largest city Toronto, unveiled a new ad campaign that uses Reagan’s words to criticize Trump’s tariffs.
In the 1-minute ad, excerpts of Reagan’s April 25, 1987, radio address are heard.
“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,” Reagan is heard saying in the commercial over scenes of people working, on farms and in cities. “And sometimes it looks like it works, but only for a short time. But over the long run, such trade barriers hurt every American worker and consumer.”
In unveiling the reportedly $53.5 million ad campaign, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said: “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.”
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute took exception to the commercial, and said the Ontario government did not seek permission to use and edit the former Republican president’s remarks.
“The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is reviewing its legal options in this matter,” it said in a statement.
