Ontario to pause anti-tariff Reagan ads after Trump calls off trade talks with Canada

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is pausing an anti-tariff ad campaign that prompted President Trump to terminate trade talks with Canada — but not before they air during World Series games featuring Canada’s lone Major League Baseball team and one of the most popular American sports franchises. 

“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,” Ford wrote on X. “We’ve achieved our goal, having reached U.S. audiences at the highest levels.

“I’ve directed my team to keep putting our message in front of Americans over the weekend so that we can air our commercial during the first two World Series games,” he continued.

The one-minute TV spot will run Friday and Saturday evening as the Toronto Blue Jays take on the Los Angeles Dodgers on Fox in games one and two of the World Series. 

Last year’s Fall Classic, which featured the Dodgers and the New York Yankees, drew 15.2 million viewers for Game 1. 

Trump announced that he had cut off trade negotiations with Canada Thursday night in response to the $75 million ad campaign. 

Ontario’s ad features remarks former President Ronald Reagan delivered in an April 1987 radio address, in which he suggested tariffs don’t work in the long term and “hurt” Americans. 

The president denounced the ad as “fake” and accused Canada of trying to “illegally influence the United States Supreme Court,” which will hear arguments in a case that will determine whether Trump has the authority to levy certain tariffs next month.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute also charged that the government of Ontario was misrepresenting Reagan’s comments by using “selective audio and video” of his remarks without permission. 

The foundation said it is reviewing its legal options. 

The ad will air on Newsmax, Bloomberg, Fox News, Fox Sports, NBC, CBS, CNBC, ESPN, ABC and local stations in the US, according to the CBC. 

“In speaking with Prime Minister [Mark] Carney, Ontario will pause its U.S. advertising campaign effective Monday so that trade talks can resume,” Ford wrote. 

“The people elected our government to protect Ontario — our workers, businesses, families and communities. That’s exactly what I’m doing,” he argued. “Like I said earlier today: Canada and the U.S. are neighbours, friends and allies. We’re so much stronger when we work together.

“Let’s work together to build Fortress Am-Can and make our two countries stronger, more prosperous and more secure.” 

Trump has slapped a 35% tariff on Canadian goods, arguing that Canada has failed to stop the flow of illicit fentanyl and other drugs into the US.

Sector-specific tariffs targeting Canadian steel, aluminum and cars have also been imposed by the president. 

Carney, who replaced former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau earlier this year, has been attempting to negotiate a deal with Trump to end the trade war.