Canadian Advertisement Exploits Reagan’s Reputation, Trump Terminates Trade Negotiations

On October 24, 2025, President Donald Trump suddenly called off all trade discussions with Canada, accusing the Canadian government of "fraudulently" utilizing a television commercial featuring former U.S. President Ronald Reagan to criticize his tariffs and sway an upcoming Supreme Court decision regarding their legality. The commercial, created by Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s provincial administration, was broadcast on U.S. networks and included Reagan’s 1987 radio remarks against tariffs. Ford stated on Friday that he would

starting Monday to give negotiations a chance to restart, though the ads would still be shown over the weekend, including during the World Series.

Trump’s move to halt negotiations heightened the strain between the two countries, which have been contending with significant U.S. tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, automobiles, and lumber since 2024. Trump has justified these tariffs as

for safeguarding U.S. national interests and economic stability. The tariffs have particularly impacted Canada’s automotive industry, prompting companies like Stellantis to relocate production from Ontario to the U.S. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has aimed to boost exports to markets beyond the U.S., acknowledged the impasse but reiterated Canada’s willingness to return to the table when the U.S. is prepared, as reported by PBS.

The conflict revolves around an advertisement for which Ontario spent 75 million Canadian dollars (about US$54 million) to air in 198 U.S. media markets, using Reagan’s 1987 address to argue against trade barriers. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute criticized the commercial as a "distortion" of Reagan’s intent, alleging that Ontario used the speech without authorization and edited it to suit a "pro-free trade agenda," the

noted. Trump echoed the foundation’s objections, claiming on Truth Social that Canada had "cheated" by leveraging Reagan’s legacy to undermine his tariff policies, which he described as vital for defending American jobs and security.

Ford, a right-leaning populist and opponent of Carney’s Liberal Party, maintained that the ad was a legitimate attempt to promote pro-trade messaging to Americans. He argued that Reagan’s opposition to tariffs supported Canada’s position and that the campaign had already succeeded in igniting a national debate about tariffs, according to PBS. Nonetheless, the backlash led Trump to accuse Canada of "playing games" and to threaten additional economic measures, including the potential expansion of tariffs to other industries.

The U.S. Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments on November 5 in a pivotal case that will determine whether the president can impose tariffs independently under emergency powers, bypassing Congress. Trump has pledged to attend the hearing, calling it "one of the most significant cases we’ve ever faced." Legal challenges to his tariffs have thus far been upheld in lower courts, which found that their implementation under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) was unlawful, according to case reports.

Meanwhile, Carney’s administration has worked to lessen the impact of Trump’s tariffs by pursuing targeted agreements and reversing retaliatory actions taken by former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Ontario’s move to pause the ad campaign comes after months of intensifying rhetoric, including Ford’s 2024 decision to impose a 25% surcharge on electricity exports to the U.S., which led Trump to double tariffs on steel and aluminum, as reported by

.

As both countries deal with the aftermath, experts caution that Trump’s uncompromising trade strategy has exposed Canada’s economy to greater risk. Although over 85% of cross-border trade remains duty-free under the USMCA, recent instability has forced Canadian companies to diversify their supply chains and explore new markets, according to

. With the Supreme Court’s decision approaching, the outlook for resolving the dispute is unclear, and the threat of additional tariffs continues to overshadow North American trade relations.