CANADIAN Prime Minister Mark Carney has confirmed that he privately apologised to U.S. President Donald Trump over an anti-tariff political advertisement and urged Ontario Premier Doug Ford not to run it.
Speaking to reporters after attending the APEC 2025 Summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, Carney said he delivered the apology to Trump during a dinner hosted by South Korea’s president on Wednesday.
“I did apologise to the president,” Carney said, confirming remarks made by Trump on Friday.
Carney also revealed that he had reviewed the ad with Ford before it aired but had opposed its release.
“I told Ford I did not want to go forward with the ad,” he said. The advertisement, commissioned by Ford, features a clip of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan warning that tariffs can lead to trade wars and economic disaster.
The airing of the ad prompted Trump to announce increased tariffs on Canadian goods and led Washington to halt trade talks with Canada.
When leaving South Korea earlier in the week, Trump described his conversation with Carney at the dinner as “very nice” but did not provide further details.
On Friday, Trump reiterated that the United States and Canada would not resume trade negotiations.
Carney also highlighted his discussions with Chinese President Xi Jinping as a turning point in Canada-China relations following years of tension.
The last formal meeting between the countries’ leaders occurred in 2017, and in recent years, Canadian citizens have faced detentions and executions in China, while Canadian authorities concluded that China interfered in at least two federal elections.
“We discussed foreign interference with Xi, among other issues,” Carney said, adding that his Asia trip aims to reduce Canada’s reliance on the United States. “It can't happen overnight, but we're moving very fast,” he said. - November 1, 2025
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