A Canadian anti-tariff TV advert which enraged Donald Trump is to be pulled from air – after the US president “terminated” trade talks with the country.
Mr Trump announced that he was ending “all trade negotiations” with Canada on Thursday in response to the broadcast campaign, sponsored by one of the country’s provinces, featuring former US president Ronald Reagan speaking negatively about tariffs.
“They only did this to interfere with the decision of the US Supreme Court, and other courts,” said Mr Trump in a social media post.
He added: “TARIFFS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY, AND ECONOMY, OF THE U.S.A.
“Based on their egregious behaviour, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED.”
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said on Friday that the advert would no longer be shown from Monday after it had “initiated a conversation” over tariffs.
However, the commercials will continue to run this weekend, including during the first World Series games between the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers.
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Mr Ford made the statement after talking with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who is hoping to strike a trade deal with the US and met Mr Trump at the White House earlier this month.
More than 75% of the country’s exports go to the US – with C$3.6bn (£1.9bn) of Canadian goods crossing the border daily.
“Our intention was always to initiate a conversation about the kind of economy that Americans want to build, and the impact of tariffs on workers and businesses,” said Mr Ford.
“We’ve achieved our goal, having reached US audiences at the highest levels.”
Mr Trump claimed that the advert misrepresented the position of Reagan, ahead of a Supreme Court hearing scheduled for next month which could decide whether the president has the power to impose sweeping tariffs.
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“CANADA CHEATED AND GOT CAUGHT!!!” said Mr Trump on social media.
“They fraudulently took a big buy ad saying that Ronald Reagan did not like Tariffs, when actually he LOVED TARIFFS FOR OUR COUNTRY, AND ITS NATIONAL SECURITY.
“Canada is trying to illegally influence the United States Supreme Court in one of the most important rulings in the history of our country.”
