WASHINGTON – Late Thursday, President Donald Trump announced the cessation of all trade discussions with Canada, citing displeasure over a television advertisement that he claims misrepresented facts about U.S. tariffs. Trump described the ad as “egregious behavior” intended to sway U.S. court decisions.

This announcement followed comments from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who expressed intentions to boost his nation’s exports beyond the U.S., a move driven by concerns over Trump’s tariff policies.

Trump took to his social media platform, stating, “The Ronald Reagan Foundation has just revealed that Canada used a fraudulent advertisement, deemed FAKE, showing Ronald Reagan speaking critically about Tariffs.”

Continuing on his platform, Trump added, “The ad cost $75,000. Its sole purpose was to meddle with the U.S. Supreme Court’s decisions, and other judicial outcomes. TARIFFS ARE CRUCIAL TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY AND ECONOMY OF THE U.S.A. Due to this outrageous conduct, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE TERMINATED.”

As of Thursday night, Carney’s office had not provided a response to requests for comment.

Earlier Thursday, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute posted on X that the ad created by the government of Ontario “misrepresents the ‘Presidential Radio Address to the Nation on Free and Fair Trade’ dated April 25, 1987.” It added that Ontario did not receive foundation permission “to use and edit the remarks.”

The foundation said it is “reviewing legal options in this matter” and invited the public to watch the unedited video of Reagan’s address.

Carney met with Trump earlier this month to try to ease trade tensions as the two countries and Mexico prepare for a review of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, a trade deal Trump negotiated in his first term, but has since soured on.

More than three-quarters of Canadian exports go to the U.S., and nearly $3.6 billion Canadian (US$2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border daily.

In his own post on X last week, Doug Ford, the premier of Ontario, posted a link to the ad and the message: “It’s official: Ontario’s new advertising campaign in the U.S. has launched.”

He continued, “Using every tool we have, we’ll never stop making the case against American tariffs on Canada. The way to prosperity is by working together.”