President Trump has terminated trade talks with Canada over an anti-tariffs ad featuring Ronald Reagan. If Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has any frustrations he wants to share about his southern neighbor, he may be able to do so with Chinese President Xi Jinping as soon as next week.
Hours ago Trump wrote on Truth Social, the social media site he owns, that “all trade negotiations with Canada are hereby terminated.” His fury was prompted by a Canadian TV commercial featuring President Reagan—a legend among conservatives—saying tariffs and trade barriers “hurt every American worker and consumer.”
While President Trump claimed the ad is “fake,” the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation said the ad “misrepresents” the radio address President Reagan made in 1987 on free trade.
Yet ahead of the talks collapsing between Ottawa and Washington, Canadian officials said in a background briefing that Carney is pursuing a “strategic relationship” with China—America’s key adversary on the global economic stage, and its most robust opponent in the tariff war.
The officials said Carney hopes to meet with the Chinese president at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Gyeongju, South Korea—though nothing has been confirmed. The Canadian leader and former Bank of England governor is keen to talk to leaders from across the geopolitical spectrum, the aides added, but will be clear on the areas where Canada and China cannot cooperate.
