In his message, Trump refers to a Canadian advertisement in which former American president Ronald Reagan speaks negatively about import tariffs. According to Trump, the advertisement is ‘fake’ and ‘fraudulent’.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford said earlier this week that the ad had caught Trump’s attention. “I heard the president heard about our commercial. I’m sure he wasn’t too happy,” Ford said.
Trade war
Trump unleashed a trade war with high import tariffs. Earlier this year, Trump imposed tariffs on imports of steel, aluminum and cars from Canada. The two countries have been discussing a possible deal for weeks.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney flew to Washington earlier this month to meet with Trump at the White House in an effort to repair the troubled relationship and save the $928 billion trade relationship.
For example, the EU wants to hit back at the US in the tariff war: ‘But hopefully there will be a deal’
Trump has imposed 35 percent tariffs on Canadian goods that are not covered by the US-Mexico-Canada Free Trade Agreement. The US president has also imposed import duties of up to 50 percent on steel and aluminum, as well as anti-dumping duties and tariffs on wood.
Automotive industry
Ontario’s Canadian auto industry, hit hard by tariffs, is facing factory closures and mass layoffs after Trump called for U.S. automakers to withdraw from the neighboring country.
The collapse in US-Canada trade talks comes ahead of Trump’s trip to Asia, where he will try to calm escalating tensions with China during a planned meeting next week with President Xi Jinping.