Two weeks ago, the United States and Canada seemed on the verge of closing a trade deal after US President Donald Trump threatened to impose tariffs. At the time, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney was visiting the White House to try to bridge the gap with the Republican."We've made a lot of progress in the last few months in terms of that relationship," said the Oval Office resident after praising Carney."I think (the members of the Canadian delegation) will leave very happy," he emphasized. Trump was friendly and complimentary:"He's a good man, he does a great job, and he's a tenacious negotiator," he said.

But in the current White House, anything can change in a matter of hours. The Republican leader decided last night to suspend negotiations his country was holding with Canada on a new trade agreement. Canada is the only G7 member that has yet to close the deal, and it appears it will take several weeks to do so, following Trump's announcement. The US president canceled the negotiations after learning that his northern neighbor had aired a television ad featuring former US President Ronald Reagan railing against tariffs in 1987.

“They used a fraudulent video in an ad that said Ronald Reagan didn't like tariffs, when in fact he loved them for our country and its national security,” Trump wrote in a post on his Truth Social social media platform, where he shares his opinions. “Canada has been a long-time fraud with tariffs, charging our farmers up to 400%. Now, neither they nor other countries can continue to take advantage of the United States. Thank you to the Ronald Reagan Foundation for exposing this fraud,” he added.

In fact, the ad aired by Canada was broadcast by the local government of Ontario, Canada's most populous province, as the Cabinet admitted a few days ago. It features a recording from almost 40 years ago in which Reagan points to tariffs as harmful to the economy.

“Imposing these tariffs or trade barriers and restrictions of any kind are measures I detest. In the long run, these trade barriers hurt all American workers and consumers,” Reagan says in the 1987 video. He adds, “In fact, there is a growing realization around the world that the key to prosperity for all nations lies in the rejection of protectionist legislation and the promotion of fair and free competition.”

In a message posted on Truth Social, Trump replied: “TARIFFS ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO NATIONAL SECURITY AND THE U.S. ECONOMY.” He concluded: “Due to your atrocious behavior, ALL TRADE NEGOTIATIONS WITH CANADA ARE TERMINATED.”

The reality is that Reagan always supported globalization and opposed protectionism. In 1988, during another radio speech on the occasion of the free trade agreement with Canada, he stated: “We must beware of demagogues who are willing to declare a trade war against our friends, weakening our economy, our national security, and the entire free world, while cynically waving the American flag.” Words that come to life these days.

The Canadian prime minister has taken Trump's latest challenge in stride. He assured this Friday that his country is"prepared to resume trade talks with the United States when the Americans are ready."

Canada is one of the United States' main trading partners, but relations between the two countries have become significantly more complicated since Trump returned to the White House. The Canadian economy has been suffering from U.S. tariffs since Trump decided on August 1 to raise them to 35% on steel, aluminum, cars, and lumber imported from Canada, arguing that Canada facilitates the arrival of illegal immigrants and fentanyl to the United States.

Although the personal relationship between the two leaders is cordial and fluid, tensions between the two neighbors have been palpable since the American proposed to Carney, during their first meeting at the White House last July, that Canada should become the 51st state. “There are places that are simply not for sale… [Canada] is not for sale, and it never will be,” the Canadian responded. But the Republican responded: “Never say never.”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said earlier this week that his province's anti-tariff ad had caught Trump's attention, Reuters reports."I heard the president heard our ad. I'm sure he didn't like it very much," Ford said Tuesday.

The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation issued a statement Thursday night stating that the Ontario government's ad"used selective audio and video" of Reagan and that the foundation was reviewing its legal options."The ad misrepresents [Reagan's 1987] presidential speech, and the Ontario government did not request or receive permission to use or edit the remarks," the foundation said in its statement. The Canadian government had no comment.

Trump has used tariffs as a tool of pressure on many countries around the world. In this trade war, he has raised US tariffs to their highest levels since the 1930s and has regularly threatened to impose more duties, raising concerns among businesses and economists.

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters on Thursday that Canada will not allow unfair US access to its markets if negotiations on various agreements with Washington fail. Next year, the United States, Canada, and Mexico will review their 2020 continental free trade agreement.