Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney publicly confirmed on Saturday that he has apologized to US President Donald Trump for an anti-tariff advertisement funded by Ontario’s provincial government.
The controversial commercial, which featured former President Ronald Reagan defending free trade, sparked significant tension between the two nations and prompted Trump to suspend trade negotiations and threaten additional tariffs on Canadian goods.
Carney acknowledged that Trump was offended by the ad and stated it was not something he would have authorized himself, marking a diplomatic effort to repair strained US-Canada trade relations.
The ad that triggered Trump’s ire
The ad at the center of the controversy aired during the American League Championship Series in late October, reaching millions of viewers who tuned in to watch the high-profile matchup between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Seattle Mariners on Fox Sports.
Commissioned by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, the $75 million campaign featured excerpts from Ronald Reagan’s 1987 radio address warning about the dangers of tariffs and their potential to damage the US economy.
Donald Trump reacted almost immediately, calling the ad “fake” and “fraudulent,” and accusing it of distorting Reagan’s true position on trade.
In response, the president announced a 10% tariff hike on Canadian goods and suspended all ongoing trade talks with Canada.
Trump was reportedly angered that Ontario did not take the ad down right away after his team raised objections.
Adding to the uproar, the Reagan Presidential Foundation said it was exploring legal action, noting that Ontario had never sought or received permission to use or alter Reagan’s remarks.
Carney’s diplomatic move and ongoing tensions
Carney made his apology privately to Trump during a dinner hosted by South Korea’s president on Wednesday at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum in Gyeongju.
When addressing reporters on Saturday, Carney emphasized his personal disapproval of the ad campaign and disclosed that he had explicitly told Ford against running it before its release.
“I did apologize to the president,” Carney stated, confirming Trump’s earlier comments from Friday.
The President was offended. It’s not something I would have done. I’m the one who is responsible in my role as prime minister for the relationship with the president of the United States.
Despite the apology, Trump made clear that trade talks would not resume with Canada.
Speaking to reporters on Air Force One on Friday, Trump acknowledged the apology but reaffirmed his position, saying what Carney’s government did was “wrong” even though he maintained a “very good relationship” with the Prime Minister.
Carney indicated that trade negotiations would only resume when the US is “ready,” leaving the diplomatic situation in a precarious state.
The ongoing tariff dispute has created significant challenges for Canada, with over three-quarters of Canadian exports directed toward the United States, valued at approximately CAD 3.6 billion (USD 2.7 billion) in goods and services crossing the border daily.
As the situation develops, both nations appear locked in a standoff with no clear resolution in sight.
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