Ontario Halts Anti-Tariff Advert Amid Trade Tensions with Trump
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has said he will pause his province's anti-tariff advertisement campaign in the U.S., after it prompted President Donald Trump to terminate trade talks.
Ford - one of Canada's most vocal critics of U.S. levies on Canadian goods - made the decision after speaking to Prime Minister Mark Carney. He announced the ad will be paused on Monday so that trade talks can resume,” while still airing over the weekend, including during Major League Baseball World Series games.
Trump criticized the advert late Thursday night on his platform Truth Social, calling it FAKE and egregious, which led to the cessation of negotiation efforts. The advert quoted former President Ronald Reagan, stating that tariffs hurt every American, sourced from his 1987 radio address on foreign trade.
The Ronald Reagan Foundation responded, asserting the ad misused Reagan's audio and video without permission, prompting an unwelcome response from Trump.
Ford defended the ad's intention to spur dialogue about the economic impact of tariffs, claiming they successfully reached U.S. audiences. This incident has ignited a debate within Canada regarding Ford's combative approach to trade negotiations and whether a friendlier stance might yield better outcomes.
Trump's decision to terminate talks comes amidst ongoing discussions about U.S. tariffs, including a 35% levy on Canadian goods and specified tariffs on metals and automobiles, which particularly impact Ontario's automotive industry.
While Carney maintains that Canada is ready to resume negotiations whenever the U.S. is, Ford's more assertive approach included previous threats to cut off liquor sales to the U.S. and public frustration over U.S. actions that jeopardize Canadian industries.
The commercial saga underscores the complexities of U.S.-Canada trade relations, with experts indicating that the path to a resolution remains fraught with challenges, regardless of negotiation style. As both Trump and Carney head to the ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur, the focus will not only be on international relations but will also encompass potential paths forward in U.S.-Canada trade discussions.
