Local News
President Trump Departs Malaysia for Japan After Securing Key Regional Agreements
Kuala Lumpur:
U.S. President Donald Trump departed Malaysia for Japan after concluding an eventful official visit marked by significant diplomatic and trade developments.
In a message posted on social media following his departure, President Trump highlighted the accomplishments of his Malaysia visit, stating that he had signed major trade and rare earth mineral agreements, reinforcing economic cooperation between Washington and Kuala Lumpur.
The U.S. President also underscored his role in fostering regional peace, noting that his mediation efforts in Thailand and Cambodia had successfully led to peace agreements between the two nations. “Millions of lives have been saved, and there will be no more war between Thailand and Cambodia — something I am very proud of,” he wrote.
President Trump’s next destination is Japan, where he is expected to hold discussions with Japanese leaders to further strengthen bilateral economic and security ties.
Following his visit to Japan, President Trump will proceed to South Korea to participate in the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit. During the summit, he is scheduled to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping, with expectations high that the two leaders will finalize a comprehensive trade agreement aimed at easing ongoing tensions and promoting stability in global markets.
The President’s multi-nation tour underscores Washington’s renewed focus on strengthening alliances and promoting peace and economic cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region.
Local News
President Trump Halts All Trade Negotiations with Canada Following Reagan-Themed Ad Controversy
Washington:
U.S. President Donald Trump has announced the immediate suspension of all ongoing trade negotiations with Canada, citing what he described as a “false and misleading” advertising campaign that misrepresented his administration’s trade policies.
According to President Trump, the decision came in direct response to a Canadian advertising campaign that used archival footage of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan, in which Reagan appeared to speak against the imposition of tariffs on imported goods. The ad suggested that Trump’s tariff policies were contrary to Reagan’s free trade philosophy.
“Based on their highly reprehensible behavior, all trade negotiations with Canada are being terminated immediately,” President Trump declared in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social.
The advertisement reportedly drew significant attention in Washington. Ontario Premier Doug Ford acknowledged earlier this week that the ad had reached the U.S. President’s desk. “I learned that the President saw our ad, and he probably wasn’t very happy with it,” Ford told reporters on Tuesday. The Reagan-themed commercial included clips of the former president warning that import tariffs lead to inflation, job losses, and trade wars — messages perceived as a direct critique of Trump’s economic stance.
President Trump has consistently defended the use of tariffs as a strategic economic tool to protect American industries and exert leverage in international trade negotiations. His administration’s tariff policies have resulted in the highest U.S. tariff rates since the 1930s, a move that has sparked both domestic and international criticism from business leaders and economists who warn of long-term economic repercussions.
In response to the U.S. decision, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney reaffirmed that Ottawa will defend its national economic interests, stating, “If ongoing trade negotiations with the United States fail, Canada will not allow unfair American access to its markets under any circumstances.”
This latest escalation marks a sharp setback in U.S.–Canada economic relations. Earlier this year, President Trump imposed heavy tariffs on Canadian steel, aluminum, and automobile imports, prompting Ottawa to introduce retaliatory measures. Negotiations aimed at reaching a new trade framework for these sectors had been underway for several weeks but now appear to have been frozen indefinitely following the President’s announcement.
The abrupt halt in talks underscores the fragility of cross-border trade diplomacy and raises new concerns about the future of North American economic cooperation.