Washington, D.C. – A 1987 radio address by President Ronald Reagan praising U.S.–Canada trade cooperation is again circulating widely online, prompting renewed discussion about economic partnership and free trade between the two countries.
According to the National Archives, the verified broadcast aired April 25, 1987, as part of Reagan’s weekly radio series. has become the latest piece of documented history challenged by the current Administration.
Thursday night, Trump says that all trade talks with Canada are ‘terminated’ in a post on his Truth Social platform. He cited an alleged “complaint” by the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute about a ‘selective’ clip of Reagan talking about tariffs in an ad by the Government of Ontario. In the speech, Reagan endorsed a trade framework built on shared values and mutual prosperity, saying: “Free and fair trade between our two great nations will mean more jobs, more growth, and better lives for our citizens.”
The original address came negotiations that ultimately led to the U.S.–Canada Free Trade Agreement of 1988, a foundation for later accords including NAFTA and today’s United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA).
Canadian officials have since pointed to that moment as a milestone in continental cooperation. In recent statements, the Canadian government reiterated that “open markets and dialogue with the United States remain vital to both economies.”
Analysts note the historical speech reflects long-standing economic alignment despite modern trade tensions. The full transcript and audio are publicly accessible through the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and archives.gov.
