President Donald Trump said Thursday he was ending trade talks with Canada effective immediately.
Trump accused Canada of trying to interfere with the upcoming Supreme Court case about the legality of his “reciprocal” tariffs.
Trump made a statement on “Social Truth” after the Canadian province of Ontario began airing television advertisements in the United States featuring a speech by former President Ronald Reagan.
“They did this only to interfere with the decisions of the U.S. Supreme Court and other courts,” Trump wrote, referring to oral arguments scheduled for Nov. 5 at the High Court on legal challenges to much of Trump's tariffs. These include country-specific rates that underpin his foreign policy and economic program.
The commercial, directed by the Prime Minister of Ontario, Doug Ford, published on Xbegins with Reagan: “When someone says, 'Let's put tariffs on foreign imports,' they seem to be doing the patriotic thing to protect American products and jobs, and sometimes it works in the short term, but only for a short time.”
“But in the long run, such trade barriers will hurt every American worker and consumer,” he continues in the ad.
“Then the worst happens: markets contract and collapse, businesses and industries close, and millions of people lose their jobs,” Reagan said in his report. 1987 radio message shipped from Camp David, Maryland.
He concludes: “There is a growing awareness around the world that the path to prosperity for all countries is through eliminating protectionist legislation and promoting fair and free competition. America's jobs and economic growth are at stake.”
Ontario ran the ad during the American League Championship Series game between the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners. Fox Sports, which broadcast the game, said more than 9 million people watched.
Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute said earlier Thursday that he was “reconsidering his legal options” for using Reagan's address. “The ad misrepresents the President's radio address and the Government of Ontario did not seek or receive permission to use or edit the statements,” the statement said.
The offices of Ford and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Canada is one of the most important trading partners of the United States. Last year it was the third-largest source of imports into the United States, with more than $410 billion worth of goods coming in.
Many U.S. supply chains also rely heavily on Canada, such as the auto industry, although the administration is pushing the Big Three U.S. automakers to reduce cross-border production.
Trump's halt to talks on Thursday is not the first time he has cut off trade talks with Canada. In June he said he “stopped ALL discussions about trade with Canada,” citing the treatment of American tech companies and dairy farmers.
Canada quickly retaliated by imposing a quota on steel products due to what Finance Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne called “unfair US tariffs.”
But days later, Canada announced it would scrap a digital services tax that would have hit big U.S. companies to appease Trump.
Carney visited the White House in early October.and the relationship seemed to improve. Speaking with Carney in the Oval Office, Trump spoke of the “mutual love” the United States and Canada have for each other.
But Trump did hint at possible tensions. “We want Canada to succeed,” he said. “But you know, there’s a point where we want the same business too.”
