Trump calls Canadian trade talks a 'scam' and pulls out completely
Donald Trump, President of the US (photo: Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump announced a complete halt to trade negotiations with Canada over fraudulent advertising, according to his post on Truth Social.
Trump was angered by an advertisement in Canada that, according to him, used the image of the late President Ronald Reagan, allegedly expressing opposition to American tariffs.
“Based on their egregious behavior, all trade negotiations with Canada are hereby terminated,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
Reason for the controversy
The incident erupted after a political advertisement appeared in Canada using archival footage of Ronald Reagan, edited to make it appear as though he was criticizing the tariff policies currently pursued by the Trump administration. For this reason, the US president called the ad false and disrespectful to the memory of a great US leader.
Canada’s reaction
The Canadian government has not officially commented on Trump’s statement.
However, sources in Ottawa cited by CBC News said that the Canadian side is surprised by the emotional reaction from the White House and hopes for a resumption of dialogue soon.
Relations between Trump and Canada cooled significantly after his return to office. Trump repeatedly accused Ottawa of unfair trade practices and economically exploiting the US market.
In September, he even claimed that Canada uses the US like an ATM, which provoked a strong response from Canadian politicians.
What’s at stake
The US and Canada are among the world’s largest trading partners, with bilateral trade in 2024 exceeding $800 billion.
The most sensitive sectors for both countries include:
- Automotive industry;
- Energy (notably Canada’s oil and gas exports);
- Agriculture;
- High-tech sector.
Experts warn that halting negotiations could create significant market tension and jeopardize several bilateral agreements planned for signing by the end of the year.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney visited Washington just a few weeks ago to discuss a new trade agreement. During the visit, he described relations between the countries as key to North America’s economic stability.
At that time, Donald Trump also mentioned that the US and Canada were jointly working on the Golden Dome air defense system.
