Oct. 24, 2025 — President Trump announced he has ended trade negotiations with Canada in direct response to a television ad that opposed U.S. tariffs. The ad began airing on CBC and major US networks around Oct. 14 was produced by the province of Ontario. The ad uses video from the Radio Address to the Nation on Free and Fair Trade given by president Ronald Reagan on April 25, 1987. Trump claimed the ad was “fake” and somehow designed to influence American courts.
The Ronal Reagan Presidential Library posted a message on X / Twitter claiming that the ad “misrepresents” the Reagan position. However, a video posted by the Reagan library shows plainly that there is no inconsistency. Reagan supported free trade policies in the 1980s and the Republican Party was long was known as “the party of free trade.”
The Reagan library also said that the government of Ontario “did not seek or receive permission to use and edit the remarks.” However, there is no requirement for anyone to seek permission to use publications in the public domain. All official acts of the US government, including presidential speeches, are in the public domain after short (5 to 12 year) processing time limits have been reached. The Reagan library acknowledges this in its statement on the Presidential Records Act. And the Reagan library has itself released these records to the public on its YouTube channel). Trump has used tariffs to punish Brazil for court decisions he didn’t like, to punish India for buying Russian oil, and to punish Cambodia and Thailand for refusing his attempts to mediate in their border war. However, this is apparently the first time that any US president has used tariffs to punish another country for expressing a point of view that disagrees with his own.
NPR and the New York Timesand other media featured this story Oct. 24.
In an Oct 26 interview, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent responded to a question from NBC’s Kristen Welker:
KRISTEN WELKER:
Okay, well let’s talk about another major trade issue, which is Canada. Of course, this week, President Trump abruptly broke off trade talks with Canada and put another 10% tariff on Canada in response to an ad that the Government of Ontario ran. It features former President Ronald Reagan. Why is the president setting trade policy based on a television ad he doesn’t like?
SEC. SCOTT BESSENT:
Well, Kristen, let’s – let’s think about this. This is a kind of propaganda against U.S. citizens. You know, it’s psyops. Why would the government of Ontario – I’m told that they have spent, or were planning to spend up to $75 million on these ads to come across the U.S. border. So what was the purpose of that other than to sway public opinion? And it’s some kind of propaganda that the premier of Ontario unilaterally launched.
KRISTEN WELKER:
Will the 10% tariffs apply to all Canadian goods, Mr. Secretary?
SEC. SCOTT BESSENT:
Kristen, I’ve been traveling since this unfortunate event happened. I know that the ad has been taken down, so, you know, we’ll have to see. But I just think it was terrible, terrible judgment by this premier who has a bit of a reputation for being a hot head.
