Prime Minister Mark Carney announced that Canada is prepared to restart trade negotiations with the United States after President Donald Trump halted discussions due to an anti-tariff advertisement released by Ontario’s provincial government. The controversy arose when the ad featured edited audio and video of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs, prompting Trump to label the commercial “fraudulent” on social media.
Carney, who has visited the White House twice since taking office, has been striving to negotiate the removal of U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum, and autos—measures that have hurt Canada’s economy. Ontario Premier Doug Ford confirmed that while the province’s ad campaign would continue through the World Series weekend to reach American audiences, it will pause on Monday to allow trade discussions to resume.
Carney emphasized his commitment to “constructive negotiations” with U.S. officials and expressed optimism about reviving talks for the benefit of both nations’ workers and industries. Meanwhile, Trump administration officials, including White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett, criticized Canada’s “lack of flexibility,” blaming Ottawa for stalled progress.
The Reagan Presidential Foundation condemned Ontario’s ad, saying it selectively used and edited Reagan’s 1987 address without authorization, misrepresenting his stance on tariffs. The foundation noted that Reagan’s original message acknowledged tariffs as a temporary measure, not a rejection of free trade.
In addition to the ad controversy, Canada recently cut tariff-free import quotas for General Motors and Stellantis, citing reduced domestic production. The tensions add to concerns surrounding Trump’s escalating trade policies, which have raised U.S. tariffs to their highest levels in decades.
Despite these challenges, Carney reiterated Canada’s readiness to continue dialogue, saying both economies stand to benefit from fair and open trade.