Ontario will suspend its short-lived U.S. television advertising campaign criticizing American tariffs, Premier Doug Ford announced Friday, as Canada prepares to resume trade negotiations with Washington. Ford said the decision followed discussions with Prime Minister Mark Carney, who is in Asia attending summits and expected to meet with President Donald Trump. The suspension aims to foster a more constructive atmosphere for renewed talks after Trump abruptly halted trade discussions in response to the ad.

The campaign, which featured archival footage of former President Ronald Reagan warning against tariffs, angered Trump, who labeled the ad “crooked” and “possibly AI-generated” after it aired during Game 1 of the World Series. Officials at the Reagan Library said Ontario’s government did not have permission to use Reagan’s image and accused the province of taking him out of context. Despite announcing the suspension, Ford confirmed the ads would continue airing through the weekend to capture major viewership during the first two World Series games. “We’ve achieved our goal, having reached U.S. audiences at the highest levels,” Ford said, emphasizing that the campaign succeeded in sparking debate over the economic impact of tariffs.

Reactions across Canada were mixed. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith welcomed the decision, saying diplomacy—not public confrontation—was the right path forward. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, however, argued that Trump’s anger proved the ads were effective and urged Ford to “keep the ads on TV.” Prime Minister Carney, speaking from Ottawa’s airport, said Canada was ready to resume “detailed, constructive negotiations” on sectors like steel, aluminum, and energy once the U.S. returned to the table. Trump, departing for Asia later that evening, said he had no immediate plans to meet with Carney but left open the possibility of renewed discussions now that the ads were being pulled.