Reagan Becomes The Reason: What's In The Ad That Ended US-Canada Trade Talks?

Washington abruptly suspended all trade negotiations with Canada after US President Donald Trump accused the Canadian government of releasing a “fake” advertisement that he claims misrepresents the words

of former US President Ronald Reagan. The minute-long ad, sponsored by Ontario’s provincial government, features excerpts from Ronald Reagan’s 1987 radio address on free and fair trade- remarks that warned against the dangers of protectionism and high tariffs.

The clip includes Ronald Reagan’s voice saying that tariffs “hurt every American” and “inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars.” While the lines are authentic, the ad rearranges their order to form a stronger anti-tariff narrative- a message many interpret as a direct critique of Donald Trump’s current trade policies.

Ronald Reagan’s 1987 Speech, Recut For 2025

The advertisement opens with Ronald Reagan saying, “When someone says, ‘let’s impose tariffs on foreign imports,’ it looks like they’re doing the patriotic thing by protecting American products and jobs. And sometimes, for a short while it works, but only for a short time.”

In Ronald Reagan’s original five-minute speech- Address to the Nation on Free and Fair Trade-  this line appeared halfway through, after the former US President discussed Japan’s trade policies and his opposition to long-term tariff measures. The ad, however, uses it as its opening statement to set the tone.

It then cuts quickly to another excerpt, “Over the long run, such trade barriers hurt every American, worker and consumer.”

In Ronald Reagan’s 1987 address, this sentence appeared much earlier and was separated by a minute of context explaining that some temporary tariffs may be justified in “special cases.”

Later in the ad, Ronald Reagan is heard warning, “High tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars. Then the worst happens. Markets shrink and collapse, businesses and industries shut down and millions of people lose their jobs.”

The ad concludes with his words, “Throughout the world, there’s a growing realisation that the way to prosperity for all nations is rejecting protectionist legislation and promoting fair and free competition. America’s jobs and growth are at stake.”

What Donald Trump Said On Ronald Reagan Ad?

Donald Trump blasted the ad on social media, calling it “FAKE” and accusing Canada of trying to “weaponize” an American president’s legacy.

“Reagan was a patriot who put America first- not a spokesman for globalists,” Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social account. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation also expressed concern, saying in a statement that the ad “misrepresents the context” of the former US President’s speech and that Ronald Reagan “was discussing temporary tariffs in response to unfair trade practices- not condemning America’s right to defend its industries.”