Following a recent diplomatic dinner at the APEC Summit, President Donald Trump has suggested a potential de-escalation of trade hostilities with Canada. This development follows Trump’s abrupt halt to trade negotiations, triggered by allegations of Canadian ‘propaganda’ against U.S. tariffs. The core of the dispute involves an advertisement utilizing footage of former President Ronald Reagan, which the Reagan Presidential Foundation has decried as a misrepresentation.
‘We had a very nice conversation with him last night,’ Trump commented to reporters about his meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney. This statement arrives as a notable shift after days of heightened rhetoric and the suspension of trade talks. The controversy began when the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation publicly stated that Canada had run a ‘propaganda’ campaign against tariffs, using selectively edited clips of Reagan. Trump characterized these actions as ‘egregious’ and aimed at undermining U.S. judicial processes.
Trump had previously announced via social media the termination of trade negotiations, labeling the Canadian ad as ‘FAKE’ and an attempt to interfere with U.S. court rulings. He emphasized the national security and economic importance of tariffs to the United States. Furthermore, Trump had also declared an additional 10% tariff on Canadian imports, citing Canada’s ‘serious misrepresentation of the facts and hostile act.’
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation has corroborated the U.S. stance, condemning the advertisement and indicating that the foundation is actively investigating its legal recourse.