Ontario Premier Doug Ford has announced a pause to the ongoing anti-tariff advertisement campaign in the U.S., following a backlash that has led President Donald Trump to cancel trade discussions between the two nations.

Following a discussion with Prime Minister Mark Carney, Ford indicated the ad campaign will be put on hold starting Monday, allowing for the resumption of important trade negotiations. However, the ads are still scheduled to air over the weekend, including during notable events such as the Major League Baseball World Series.

Earlier, Trump criticized the campaign in a post on Truth Social, labeling it as FAKE and egregious, which prompted the halt of the negotiations.

The Ontario government's advertisement featured quotes from former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, communicating the message that tariffs are detrimental to American consumers. However, Trump's reaction was swift, and the Ronald Reagan Foundation objected to the advert's representation of Reagan's legacy, claiming it was based on selective usage of his remarks and that permission was not sought for its use.

The aim of the campaign, according to Ford, was to provoke discussion about the future of the American economy in the context of tariffs and trade policies, an objective they feel has been achieved through significant audience engagement in the U.S.

As negotiations between Canada and the U.S. ground to a halt, discussions around the trade strategies employed by Ford have sparked debate within Canada. Analysts suggest Ford's aggressive approach might hinder the path to a cooperative economic future with the U.S.