Toronto, 24 October 2025 — Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced a change for his province. They will suspend its anti-tariff advertising campaign in the United States. This decision follows backlash from President Donald Trump, who abruptly ended trade negotiations with Canada in response.
Ford said the commercial — which criticizes U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods — will continue airing over the weekend. This includes during Major League Baseball World Series broadcasts. However, it will be paused on Monday to give room for trade talks to restart.
“We’ve achieved our goal of starting a conversation about the economy Americans want to build,” Ford told reporters. “Now it’s time to return to the table.”
The decision followed a phone discussion between Ford and Prime Minister Mark Carney on Friday. Carney later confirmed that Canada is ready to resume trade negotiations “as soon as the U.S. is prepared.”
Trump Calls Ontario’s Ad ‘Fake’ and Ends Talks
Late Thursday night, President Trump blasted the Ontario government’s advertisement on Truth Social. He called it “FAKE” and “egregious.” He declared that trade discussions were “HEREBY TERMINATED.”
The video, funded by Ontario’s government, featured excerpts from a 1987 radio address by former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, a Republican icon, in which Reagan argued that tariffs “hurt every American.”
However, the Ronald Reagan Foundation accused the ad of taking Reagan’s words out of context. They said that the ad used selective audio and video clips without authorization. It distorted the original message.
Ford Defends Campaign’s Purpose
Ford responded to the controversy. The intent was never to offend. It was to highlight the economic harm tariffs cause on both sides of the border.
“The ad was meant to spark a discussion about trade. It also aimed to highlight the shared prosperity between Canada and the United States. Ford said Ontario’s message had reached the highest levels of U.S. political attention.”
Earlier on Friday, the premier posted the full 1987 Reagan address online, emphasizing that the late U.S. president “understood Canada and the U.S. are stronger together.”
Tariffs Hit Ontario’s Auto and Metals Sectors Hard
The dispute centers on the U.S. decision to impose a 35% tariff on all Canadian imports. However, many products remain exempt under the existing free trade agreement.
Additional sector-specific tariffs are causing significant challenges. These include 50% on metals and 25% on automobiles. They have heavily impacted Ontario’s manufacturing base. Ontario is home to the bulk of Canada’s auto industry.
Since taking office earlier this year, Prime Minister Carney has sought to negotiate relief from these tariffs. With roughly 75% of Canadian exports heading to the U.S., the country’s economy remains highly dependent on smooth cross-border trade.
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