He US presidentDonald Trump, announced this Thursday the breakdown of trade negotiations with Canada, after accuse the neighboring country of promoting a “false campaign” against it through an ad that uses excerpts from a speech by former President Ronald Reagan.
On his social network Truth Social, the president wrote that, “based on the atrocious behavior” of Canada, “all trade negotiations are terminated.”
According to SwissinfoTrump’s anger was unleashed after learning that the ad—produced by the government of the Canadian province of Ontario—used a speech by Reagan to criticize tariff policies.
Trump stated that the campaign seeks to “interfere” in the decision of the United States Supreme Court, which must rule soon on his extensive global tariffs.
“Canada cheated and was caught,” the president insisted in a new publication this Friday.
Canada’s response to Trump
For his part, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney avoided directly mentioning the change in the American president’s position, but assured that His country remains willing to resume dialogue “when the Americans are ready.”
“We cannot control the trade policy of the United States,” he said before traveling to Asia.
According to cnnthe ad in question includes authentic excerpts from a radio speech given by Reagan in 1987, in which he warned that “high tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation and trade wars.”
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute confirmed that the speech is real, although it accused the Ontario government of using “selective audio and video” without permission, and said it is “reviewing its legal options.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford defended the campaign and denied it was misleading.
“That ad is not unpleasant. It’s very objective. And coming from a person like Ronald Reagan, any Republican will identify that voice,” Ford said on October 14.
Trump’s abrupt decision represents a new setback for relations between the North American neighbors, just two weeks after a cordial meeting between both leaders in the White House.
According to swissinfo, the breakup represents “a political blow” for Carney, whom Trump had recently called a “world-class leader.”
Despite the crisis, Canada and the United States continue to be part of the USMCA, the trade agreement that also includes Mexico and guarantees that around 85% of cross-border trade remains tariff-free.
