Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has apologised to US President Donald Trump over a controversial anti-tariff advertisement. Speaking in Gyeongju, Carney said, “The President was offended.” He added that trade talks will restart once the US is “ready.”
The one-minute ad, launched by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, used Ronald Reagan’s 1987 speech against trade barriers. In the clip, Reagan warned that tariffs trigger trade wars, market collapse, and job losses. Carney said he reviewed the ad and told Ford not to air it. “I did not want to go forward with the ad,” he said.
Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One that he appreciated the apology but called the commercial “false” and “crooked.” He claimed Reagan supported tariffs, not opposed them. Trump said the ad misrepresented facts and announced the suspension of trade talks with Canada.
On Truth Social, Trump demanded the ad be removed immediately and criticised Ford for airing it during the World Series. Soon after, he raised tariffs on Canada by an additional 10 percent. Trump said the move was a response to Canada’s “hostile act” and “serious misrepresentation.”
