Ford says he won’t apologize for anti-tariff ads that scuttled trade talks with U.S.

By Canadian Press on October 27, 2025.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford is defending the government ad campaign that led U.S. President Donald Trump to end trade talks, calling it “the best ad that ever ran.”

Ford says he will “never apologize” for defending jobs in his province and accused the Trump administration of trying to poach those jobs through tariffs.

Trump said last week he was suspending trade talks with Canada and would hit back with 10 per cent tariffs in retaliation for Ontario’s ad, which ran in major U.S. television markets.

The ad features former U.S. president Ronald Reagan warning that tariffs lead to trade wars and damage economies in the long run.

Prime Minister Mark Carney says Ottawa and Washington were making progress on steel, aluminum and energy when Trump suddenly halted the talks.

Ford says he’s been hearing about an imminent deal for months — with no mention of any relief coming for Ontario’s battered automotive sector.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 27, 2025.

The Canadian Press

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