- After fierce backlash from US president
- Former President Reagan’s ad calling tariffs harmful aired on major Canadian channels
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has apologized to US President Donald Trump for an anti-tariff ad aired in the US. The ad criticized Trump’s trade policies, sparking a diplomatic row. Despite Carney’s opposition to the ad, it was aired on all Canadian networks, prompting an angry Trump to abandon ongoing trade talks with Canada and impose higher tariffs on Canadian products.
Carney said after attending the Asia-Pacific summit in South Korea that he had personally apologized to Trump during a dinner hosted by the South Korean president. Carney clarified that he had warned Ontario Premier Doug Ford against airing the ad. The ad quoted former US President Ronald Reagan’s 1987 tariffs, which he said hurt every American. Carney said he told Ford that he did not agree with the ad. The 60-second ad, which aired on October 16 during a high-profile event like the World Series, cost $75 million. Trump was angered by the ad and announced on social media that he would immediately abandon trade talks with Canada. Although Ford later promised to withdraw the ad to ease tensions, it continued to air on major Canadian channels. In response to the ad, Trump imposed a 10 percent tariff on Canadian products.
