Ontario Halts Anti-Tariff Ad Campaign Following Trump’s Outrage

Sun Oct 26 2025 05:12:56 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a surprising move, Ontario's Premier Doug Ford has decided to pause an anti-tariff advertising campaign that provoked the ire of former President Donald Trump and led to the termination of U.S.-Canada trade talks.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has paused the province's controversial anti-tariff advertisement campaign targeting U.S. tariffs after President Trump reacted negatively, leading to a halt in trade negotiations. Ford stated the ad will still run over the weekend, with intentions to resume talks afterward. The advertisement featured a statement from former President Ronald Reagan, but spurred backlash after the Reagan Foundation criticized its use of audio and video. The pause comes amidst ongoing tensions as Canada seeks to negotiate a better trade relationship with the U.S.

Ontario Halts Anti-Tariff Ad Campaign Following Trump’s Outrage

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has said he will pause his province's anti-tariff advertisement campaign in the US, after it prompted President Donald Trump to terminate trade talks.

Ford, known for his criticism of US tariffs on Canadian goods, made the decision after talking to Prime Minister Mark Carney. The TV spot will continue to air over the weekend but will be paused on Monday to facilitate the resumption of trade discussions.

Trump criticized the ad as FAKE and egregious via a Truth Social post, leading to immediate backlash and the termination of negotiations. The controversial ad featured a quote from former US President Ronald Reagan about tariffs harming Americans and was criticized by the Reagan Foundation for selective use of Reagan's audio and video.

Despite the fallout, Ford defended the campaign as a way to spark discussions around the economic implications of tariffs, stating, We've achieved our goal, reaching US audiences at the highest levels. The situation raises questions about Ford's combative approach compared to Carney's efforts for a more diplomatic strategy.

With the United States imposing hefty tariffs on Canadian exports, Ontario's economy, heavily reliant on automobile manufacturing, continues to feel the impact. Ford's bold decisions, including the advertisement and previous threats to withdraw energy supplies, highlight the ongoing conflict and complexity of Canada-U.S. trade relations. As the dialogue remains tense, the pause in the advertisement campaign signals a potential shift in strategy amidst the ongoing trade negotiations.