Ontario Premier Doug Ford is standing firm after U.S. President Donald Trump announced the cancellation of trade negotiations with Canada. This decision came in response to a television advertisement produced by Ontario that featured clips of former President Ronald Reagan discussing free trade.

In a post on social media, Ford emphasized the importance of the relationship between Canada and the United States. He stated, "Canada and the United States are friends, neighbours and allies. President Ronald Reagan knew that we are stronger together. God bless Canada and God bless the United States." Ford's office confirmed that this statement would be their official comment on the situation.

The ad campaign, which cost approximately $75 million, aired on major U.S. television networks. Ford described the campaign as a way to effectively communicate with American audiences, particularly Trump supporters.

Trump criticized the ad on his Truth Social platform, claiming it was an attempt to interfere with a pending U.S. Supreme Court decision regarding his tariff policies. He labeled the advertisement as "fake" and stated, "TARIFFS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO THE NATIONAL SECURITY, AND ECONOMY, OF THE U.S.A. Based on their egregious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE HEREBY TERMINATED."

The ad included Reagan's remarks from a 1987 address, where he warned that high tariffs could lead to retaliation and trade wars. Earlier this week, Canada-U.S. Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc had indicated that discussions with the White House were progressing, although more work was needed.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation criticized the Ontario ad, claiming it misrepresented Reagan's address and that the province did not seek permission to use his remarks. In response, Ford's office stated that the ad utilized an unedited excerpt from a public address by Reagan, which is available in the public domain.

This exchange follows a recent meeting between Prime Minister Mark Carney and Trump at the White House, which did not yield a trade deal. Carney is expected to address Trump's comments on Friday morning before departing for Malaysia, time permitting.

Trump's initial reaction to the Ontario ad was more favorable, as he remarked to supporters that he would have run a similar ad if he were in Canada's position. However, the situation has escalated significantly since then, leading to the current breakdown in trade talks.