President Donald Trump announced Friday that he will halt trade talks with Canada after Ontario launched an anti-tariff ad campaign that used the recorded voice of former U.S. president Ronald Reagan.
Trump said during a press briefing at the White House that the ads interfered with ongoing negotiations. Ontario officials confirmed that they will pull the ads before the end of the weekend in response to Trump’s decision.
The campaign targeted recent U.S. tariffs that affect Ontario’s export-reliant industries. The ads aired across multiple platforms to press the U.S. to reverse the tariffs. The White House treated the campaign as a breach of diplomatic protocol.
The halt in talks follows months of unresolved disputes over tariffs and other trade terms between the United States and Canada. Ontario has warned that the tariffs hurt manufacturers and workers across the province.
Ontario leaders said they intend to remove the ads to preserve the chance to resume talks. Officials in both countries did not release a timeline for when negotiations could restart. The status of trade talks remains uncertain as both governments continue to weigh next steps.