WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday publicly accused Canada of playing “dirty” in a trade-related dispute, despite the Canadian province of Ontario agreeing to withdraw a controversial anti-tariff advertisement intended to influence U.S. trade policy.
The row centers on an advertisement that Ontario launched, which cited former U.S. President Ronald Reagan’s 1987 remarks warning that “high tariffs inevitably lead to retaliation by foreign countries and the triggering of fierce trade wars.” Reagan’s foundation later claimed the ad used “selective audio and video” and said it was reviewing legal steps.
Although Ontario announced it would pull the ad starting Monday so that trade negotiations could resume, Trump told reporters:
“Canada got caught cheating on a commercial, can you believe it?… That’s dirty play. But I can play dirtier than they can.”
The dispute has already derailed scheduled meetings: Trump announced on his social-media platform that all trade negotiations with Canada were “terminated,” citing what he described as the “fake” ad campaign.
On his part, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said his country was “ready to resume progress on trade talks when the Americans are ready.” He added Canada must “focus on what we can control, and realise what we cannot control.”
The spat compounds already strained relations between the U.S. and Canada, in part due to Trump’s sweeping tariffs on steel, aluminium and autos — policies that have significantly impacted Canadian industry.
With trade, policy and diplomacy at stake, both sides now face pressure to de-escalate, yet the tone from Washington suggests that Trump is not backing down anytime soon.
Leave a comment