Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney apologized to U.S. President Donald Trump for an anti-tariff political ad and instructed Ontario Premier Doug Ford not to air it. Speaking to reporters on Saturday after an Asia-Pacific summit in South Korea, Carney revealed he had privately apologized to Trump during a dinner hosted by South Korea’s president on Wednesday.
“I did apologize to the president,” Carney confirmed, echoing Trump’s remarks from Friday.
Carney also acknowledged reviewing the ad with Ford before its release but stated he had opposed its use. “I told Ford I did not want to go forward with the ad,” he said.
The ad, commissioned by Ford—a vocal Conservative politician often compared to Trump—featured a clip of former President Ronald Reagan warning that tariffs lead to trade wars and economic turmoil. In retaliation, Trump raised tariffs on Canadian goods and suspended trade talks with Canada.
Before leaving South Korea, Trump described his dinner conversation with Carney as “very nice” but provided no details. On Friday, he reiterated that trade talks with Canada would not resume.
Carney noted that his Friday meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping marked a turning point in relations after years of strain. The last formal meeting between Canadian and Chinese leaders occurred in 2017, when then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau briefly spoke with Xi in San Francisco.
Tensions had escalated in recent years, with Canadian citizens detained and executed in China, and Canadian security authorities concluding that China interfered in at least two federal elections. Carney confirmed discussing foreign interference and other issues with Xi.
The Asia trip was part of Canada’s strategy to reduce its reliance on the United States, Carney explained, adding, “It can’t happen overnight, but we’re moving very fast.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about the incident involving Mark Carney Donald Trump and the Ontario antitariff ad designed to be clear and helpful for a range of readers
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 What is this story about in simple terms
The Premier of Ontario Doug Ford ran a TV ad in the US that used a clip of former President Ronald Reagan to criticize President Trumps tariffs Mark Carney who was Canadas top banker at the time later apologized to President Trump because the ad was seen as disrespectful and unhelpful
2 Who is Mark Carney and why was he involved
At the time Mark Carney was the Governor of the Bank of Canada He wasnt responsible for the ad but he was a key official in economic discussions with the US He got involved to help smooth over the diplomatic tension the ad created
3 What did the Ontario advertisement say
The ad used a famous clip of Ronald Reagan saying Its time for them to go referring to the new US tariffs The ad was aimed at American viewers urging them to tell their politicians to remove tariffs that were hurting businesses on both sides of the border
4 Why did Mark Carney apologize if he didnt make the ad
He apologized to maintain a good working relationship with the US administration Even though a provincial leader made the ad it risked damaging the broader CanadaUS relationship Carneys apology was a diplomatic move to deescalate the situation
5 What are tariffs and why were they a big deal
Tariffs are taxes that a country places on imported goods The US had placed tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum claiming they were a national security risk Canada saw this as unfair and responded with its own tariffs on US products creating a trade dispute that threatened jobs and prices in both countries
Advanced Detailed Questions
6 What was the specific context of the USCanada trade relationship at that time
This happened in 2018 during a period of intense renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement The US had just imposed national security tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum which Canada viewed as illegal and provocative leading to a major trade
