US President Donald Trump has declared an immediate halt to all ongoing trade discussions with Canada in response to a televised ad criticizing the tariffs he implemented against the country.

The commercial, funded by Ontario’s provincial government, featured a quote from former President Ronald Reagan—widely regarded as a conservative icon—stating that tariffs "hurt every American."

Reacting on social media, Trump denounced the ad as "FAKE" and "egregious," asserting that trade negotiations were "HEREBY TERMINATED."

Trump's administration has placed a 35% duty on a wide array of Canadian imports, in addition to customized tariffs for industries such as automotive and steel production—areas where Ontario has been particularly affected.

Some goods that fall under the existing trade deal with Mexico and Canada, established during Trump’s first term, have been exempt from the tariffs.

Since the beginning of his term, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has been attempting to negotiate relief from the US tariffs, but these efforts have faced obstacles.

One significant challenge has been Ontario Premier Doug Ford, a staunch opponent of the American levies, especially those affecting Canadian exports purchased by US companies.

The one-minute advertisement released last week features Reagan’s voice narrating over images of financial symbols like the New York Stock Exchange and shipping cranes displaying Canadian and US flags.

It draws from Reagan’s 1987 national radio address, which focused on international trade dynamics.

In the ad, Reagan states, “When someone says 'let's impose tariffs on foreign imports,' it may seem patriotic by protecting American jobs. And it might work temporarily, but only briefly."

He continues, warning that over time, such tariffs hurt American workers and consumers, often leading to retaliatory measures, economic downturns, and job losses on a massive scale.

The Ronald Reagan Foundation, tasked with preserving Reagan’s legacy, issued a statement on Thursday criticizing the use of selective audio and video clips in the ad.

The foundation claimed the advertisement “misrepresents” Reagan’s intended message, noting that the Ontario government did not request permission to use or edit the material.

They added that they are currently exploring legal avenues to address the issue.

Trump referenced the foundation’s stance and claimed the advert was a deliberate attempt to sway the US Supreme Court, which is set to rule in November on the legality of the broad tariffs imposed by his administration.

This legal decision could have major repercussions for Trump's trade policies, potentially requiring the US government to repay billions of dollars in collected tariffs.

Although the ad only shows fragments of Reagan’s original five-minute address, his words were not altered. However, the sequence of his remarks was changed—the ad’s second-to-last line comes from the beginning of Reagan’s speech, while another early phrase appears mid-way through the ad.

Reagan’s original speech, titled “Address to the Nation on Free and Fair Trade,” was issued during his administration’s imposition of special tariffs on certain Japanese imports.

In the address, Reagan emphasizes his overall support for free trade and explains that the tariffs were a limited exception to promote fairness, with intentions to remove them as soon as possible.

The Ontario government is financing the media campaign, which is valued at 75 million Canadian dollars ($54 million USD), and the advert is airing across major US television networks.

In sharing the commercial, Premier Ford affirmed that they will “never stop fighting against American tariffs on Canada.”

Earlier this year, China's embassy in Washington also utilized a Reagan quote in a similar post criticizing Trump's global trade tariffs.

Ontario, as Canada’s most populous and economically significant province, has borne the brunt of US trade restrictions.

In response to Trump's earlier threats, Premier Ford once threatened to halt electricity exports to the US and likened Washington’s trade moves to a betrayal, urging American lawmakers to challenge Trump’s approach.

Among the affected sectors, Trump has placed a 50% tariff on Canadian metals and a 25% duty on automobile imports.

These wider tariff measures—especially on critical industries like steel, aluminum, and vehicles—have severely impacted Canadian businesses, causing job losses and economic strain.

Neither Carney nor Ford have yet issued official statements in response to Trump’s latest declaration.

This marks the second occasion in which Trump has publicly ended trade talks with Canada. The first followed Canada’s announcement of a digital services tax targeting major US tech companies.

After Canada decided to retract the tax, the White House claimed that Carney had yielded to Trump’s demands under mounting pressure.