Ontario Premier Ford Claims PM Carney Approved Controversial Reagan Tariff Ad Ahead US Trade Tensions

Ontario Premier Doug Ford revealed that Prime Minister Mark Carney and his chief of staff had reviewed and approved an anti-tariff advertisement featuring excerpts from Ronald Reagan before it aired in the United States. The ad, which aired during the World Series and aimed to sway public opinion against U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods, prompted U.S. President Donald Trump to abruptly halt trade negotiations with Canada, stating the ad interfered with ongoing discussions. Despite Trump's refusal to meet with Canadian officials "for a while," Carney maintains that significant progress had been made in trade talks prior to the ad's release and remains open to resuming negotiations. Ford defends the ad's effectiveness, noting it generated substantial media attention and support from other Canadian premiers, although some provincial leaders expressed concern. Ford accuses federal officials of not prioritizing Ontario's industry challenges sufficiently, while Carney urges Canadian leaders to remain calm amid the trade dispute. The situation underscores tensions between Canadian provincial governments and the Trump administration over tariffs and trade policies.