Ontario halted anti-tariff advert

Washington (dpa) — The Canadian province of Ontario is suspending the broadcast of an anti-tariff advertising clip following a fierce reaction from US President Donald Trump and the suspension of trade talks.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced on X on Friday that, following a conversation with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, the province would suspend its advertising campaign starting on Monday.

“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. We’ve achieved our goal,” Ford wrote on X.

“In speaking with Prime Minister Carney, Ontario will pause its U.S. advertising campaign effective Monday so that trade talks can resume,” he said.

Trump on Thursday said he was halting trade talks with the neighbouring country because of the advert, describing its broadcast as “egregious behavior” by the Canadians and saying it was misleading.

The video features the voice of former US president Ronald Reagan commenting on the disadvantages of trade tariffs, in excerpts from a 1987 address broadcast on radio.

The Republican president, who died in 2004, made the address to explain why he decided to impose trade duties on some Japanese products.

Trump has made frequent use of global tariffs in his second term in office.