‘We are ready to…’: Canada takes BIG step after Trump halts US-Canada trade talks over Reagan ad campaign criticising US tariffs

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his government is still willing to have positive and constructive talks with the United States, even after US President Doland Trump suddenly ended trade negotiations between the two countries. Speaking on Friday before leaving for Malaysia to attend the ASEAN Summit, Carney said, “For months, we have focused on the difference between what we can control and what we cannot. We cannot control the trade policy of the United States. That policy is now very different from what it was in the 1980s, 1990s, or 2000s.”

Carney explained that Canadian negotiators had been making good progress with their US counterparts, especially in important areas like steel, aluminium, and energy. “Our teams have been working closely in detailed and productive talks. We are ready to continue that work whenever the US is prepared to resume discussions,” he added.

His comments came just hours after President Trump announced that he was ending all trade talks with Canada. Trump made this decision after a video advertisement from Ontario’s provincial government featured old clips of former US President Ronald Reagan criticising tariffs, footage Trump called “fake.”

On Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Tariffs are very important for the national security and economy of the United States. Because of Canada’s unacceptable actions, all trade negotiations with them are now terminated.”

Trump also accused Canada of trying to influence the US Supreme Court, which is currently reviewing cases related to his tariff policies.

After Trump’s reaction, Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he would stop running the anti-tariff advertisement to help create a chance for trade talks to start again.

White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett said on Friday that the President’s decision showed his “frustration” with Canada over the stalled trade talks.

“I think the President is very frustrated with Canada and rightly so,” Hassett told Fox News, explaining that Canadian negotiators had been “very difficult to deal with” and that this frustration had grown over time.

This latest conflict has created more uncertainty in one of the world’s biggest trading partnerships.

President Doland Trump has already imposed a 35 per cent tariff on certain Canadian exports and has even joked several times that Canada should become the 51st US state.