‘Disgraceful behavior’: Trump says he’s ending trade talks with Canada over TV ads – Everything you need to know – The Times of India

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Thursday that he is halting all trade negotiations with Canada, citing television advertisements that he said were intended to influence the decisions of U.S. courts.President Trump described the ads as “egregious behavior” and accused Canada of misusing images of former President Ronald Reagan. “The Ronald Reagan Foundation just announced that Canada fraudulently used an ad, which is FAKE, featuring Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about tariffs,” he said in a post on Truth Social.

“Based on their egregious conduct, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINED,” Trump added.Earlier this week, Trump said he saw the ad on television and interpreted it as evidence that his tariffs were having an impact.The move follows comments from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who said he plans to double Canadian exports to markets outside the US in response to the threat posed by Trump’s tariffs.The ad, launched by Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s $75 million government, highlights former President Ronald Reagan’s warning about the harm of tariffs.The 60-second TV spot features workers such as welders and bakers, as well as families, while using Reagan’s 1987 radio speech in which he declared that trade barriers harm all American workers and consumers, as quoted by the Globe and Mail. “High tariffs inevitably lead to foreign retaliation and the provocation of intense trade wars,” Reagan said. “Then the worst happens: markets shrink and collapse, businesses and industries close their doors and millions of people lose their jobs. There is a growing realization around the world that the path to prosperity for all countries is to reject protectionist legislation and promote fair and free competition,” Reagan says in the ad.Ford revealed the $75 million price tag for the ads during a speech earlier this month at the Empire Club of Canada luncheon in downtown Toronto. He added that the county plans to take the message “to every Republican district” in the United States.“We’re just going to tell the truth,” Ford said. “That ad, it’s not an annoying ad. It’s actually just very factual. Coming from someone like Ronald Reagan, every Republican will recognize that voice.”The Ronald Reagan Foundation dismissed the ad as a “misrepresentation” and said it was exploring legal options to challenge its use.“The advertisement misrepresents the presidential radio address, and the Ontario government did not seek or receive permission to use and edit the comments. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute is reviewing its legal option in this matter,” the Foundation said via a post on X.