Screenshot of a Canadian TV commercial about tariffs. Toronto, YouTube screen capture. 

U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly announced the suspension of trade negotiations with Canada.

On the 23rd (local time), Trump announced on Truth Social, a social media platform he founded, that all negotiations with Canada would be terminated immediately.

He cited a Canadian TV commercial opposing his trade policy, which heavily features tariffs, as the reason for ending the talks.

President Trump stated, "The Ronald Reagan Foundation has just announced that Canada has deceptively used a commercial, a false commercial, featuring Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about tariffs."

He alleged that Canada ran the advertisement to interfere with and influence decisions made by U.S. courts, including the Supreme Court.

Recently, U.S. courts ruled that the so-called "reciprocal tariffs" unilaterally imposed by President Trump on Canada and other countries were unlawful.

The courts determined that while the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), which formed the basis for Trump's reciprocal tariffs, grants the president powers to regulate imports, it does not authorize him to impose tariffs through executive orders without congressional approval.

Following an appeal by the Trump administration, the Supreme Court decided to expedite the case judging the illegality of the reciprocal tariffs and scheduled the first hearing for November 5th of this year.

President Trump said on Truth Social that day, "Tariffs are extremely important to our national security and economy. Based on these egregious actions by Canada, I am hereby ending all negotiations with Canada."

It remains unconfirmed whether President Trump's decision to terminate trade negotiations with Canada was solely based on the advertisement or if other reasons are involved.

The Canadian government, including Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's office, has not yet released a statement regarding President Trump's announcement to halt trade negotiations.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney (left) and U.S. President Donald Trump. Reuters=Yonhap News. 

The advertisement, produced under the auspices of the Province of Ontario, Canada, argued the adverse long-term effects of tariffs on the lives of Americans.

It contended that while imposing tariffs on foreign products might appear patriotic and temporarily effective in protecting American goods and jobs, it could ultimately harm the market, lead to the collapse of businesses and industries, and result in millions of job losses.

The ad generally opposed U.S. tariffs and concluded with an appearance by former President Reagan, making it seem as though he had uttered such words.

The voice used for former President Reagan in the advertisement was from a speech he gave on April 25, 1987, during which he expressed his commitment to free trade.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford introduced the advertisement via X (formerly Twitter), emphasizing, "We will use every tool at our disposal to continue opposing U.S. tariffs on Canada. The path to prosperity is cooperation."

However, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation claimed that the advertisement distorted former President Reagan's radio address and that permission was not obtained for the use or modification of his remarks.

They added that they are considering legal action.

Foreign media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg noted the significance of Ontario's decision to use the voice of former President Reagan, who holds considerable influence among conservatives in the United States.

The interpretation is that Reagan's voice was used to raise questions among Republican supporters, who have historically supported free trade principles, about the Trump administration's tariff policies.

President Trump's declaration to end trade negotiations with Canada has thrown the bilateral trade talks, which have been ongoing for several months, into a new crisis.

Recently, Canada had been focusing on reaching an agreement that would involve some easing of steel and aluminum tariffs in exchange for an increase in Canadian energy exports to the U.S.

With President Trump and Prime Minister Trudeau expected to meet at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea next week, attention is being paid to whether this meeting could lead to a turnaround in trade negotiations.

Previously, Prime Minister Trudeau stated on the 21st that Canada was engaged in "intensive negotiations" with the U.S. and anticipated meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump at the APEC summit.

Yonhap News