In a dramatic turn for North American trade relations, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has publicly confirmed that he apologized to U.S. President Donald Trump over a controversial anti-tariff advertisement produced by the province of Ontario. The apology, delivered privately during a state dinner in South Korea on October 29, 2025, comes after weeks of escalating tensions that have seen trade negotiations stall and fresh tariffs imposed on Canadian exports.
The saga began when Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government launched a $75-million advertising campaign during the Major League Baseball playoffs and World Series, targeting U.S. audiences with a message that tariffs lead to economic disaster. The ad featured a clip from a 1987 speech by former President Ronald Reagan, warning that tariffs can spark “fierce trade wars” and unemployment. According to Juno News, Carney admitted at the closing press conference of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Gyeongju, South Korea, that he had reviewed the ad with Ford before it aired and had advised against its broadcast in the U.S.
“I did apologize to the president. The president was offended,” Carney told reporters, as cited by AFP. “I’m the one who’s responsible, in my role as prime minister, for our relationship with the president of the United States, and the federal government is responsible for the foreign relationship with the U.S. government. So, things happen – we take the good with the bad – and I apologized.”
The apology, however, has not been enough to mend the rift. President Trump, speaking to reporters on October 31, 2025, confirmed Carney’s overture but dismissed the prospect of resuming trade talks. “I have a very good relationship, I like him a lot – but you know, what they did was wrong,” Trump said, according to Juno News. “He [Carney] was very nice, he apologized for what they did with the commercial because it was a false commercial. It was the exact opposite; Ronald Reagan loved tariffs and they tried to make it look the other way.”
Trump’s ire centered on the editing of Reagan’s speech. While the ad used real excerpts, the statements were presented out of their original order, a move Trump characterized as misleading. The White House further accused Canada of attempting to sway a looming U.S. Supreme Court decision on Trump’s tariff policy, a charge Canadian officials have denied.
The fallout was swift and severe. The Trump administration suspended all trade talks with Canada, halting what Carney described as “very detailed and constructive” discussions that had been underway until the ad aired. Then, in a move that rattled Canadian exporters, the U.S. announced an additional 10 percent levy on Canadian goods after the commercial was not immediately pulled from American broadcasts. The two leaders, despite attending the same events in South Korea, did not hold a formal bilateral meeting, though they were seen briefly exchanging pleasantries at a state dinner hosted by South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, the architect of the campaign, has stood by his decision, even as he confirmed Carney had been aware of the ad’s content in advance. “We generated a conversation that wasn’t happening in the U.S.,” Ford said, according to The New York Times. “Now every single local media, every large media, medium-sized media in the U.S. is talking about it.” Nevertheless, Ford agreed to pull the ads from American airwaves after the World Series, a move that did little to placate the White House.
The controversy has exposed deep divisions within Canada’s political leadership. While Carney emphasized that “trade relations and foreign affairs are solely under the control of the federal government,” Ford and some other provincial leaders have defended the campaign as a necessary stand against U.S. protectionism. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew expressed support, stating, “I think it’s good that President Trump has to squirm and that he’s being reminded that Republicans and Mr. Reagan were totally against tariffs.” Meanwhile, British Columbia’s Premier David Eby indicated his province would continue with similar anti-tariff messaging aimed at Americans.
The economic stakes could hardly be higher. The U.S. and Canada share the world’s longest land border and exchanged $761.8 billion worth of goods in the previous year, according to the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative. The sudden imposition of new tariffs and the suspension of trade talks threaten to disrupt supply chains and unsettle markets on both sides of the border.
For Carney, the crisis has underscored the need for Canada to diversify its economic partnerships. Speaking to reporters, he outlined ongoing efforts to attract foreign investment and promote Canadian liquefied natural gas exports across Southeast Asia. Carney’s recent talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, held on November 1, 2025, were described by the prime minister as a “turning point” in Canada-China relations after years of tension, which included the detention and execution of Canadian citizens in China and allegations of Chinese interference in Canadian elections. “It can’t happen overnight, but we’re moving very fast,” Carney said, highlighting the urgency of reducing Canada’s reliance on its southern neighbor.
Despite the diplomatic turbulence, Carney has expressed cautious optimism that trade talks with the U.S. will eventually resume. “We’ll wait until they’re ready,” he remarked, signaling a willingness to let tempers cool before seeking a new path forward. Yet, the episode has left a mark, raising questions about the role of provincial leaders in shaping international policy and the delicate balance required to manage Canada’s most important trading relationship.
As the dust settles, the incident serves as a stark reminder of how quickly a single advertisement—especially one that touches a nerve in the highest offices—can upend years of diplomacy and economic cooperation. Whether the apology will eventually pave the way for renewed dialogue remains to be seen, but for now, both sides appear to be standing firm, each waiting for the other to make the next move.
