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Canada's Carney Apologizes to Trump Over Controversial Tariff Ad
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney confirmed Saturday he had apologized to U.S. President Donald Trump over a politically charged advertisement that quoted former President Ronald Reagan to criticize tariffs, escalating tensions that prompted Trump to suspend trade negotiations and threaten additional import taxes.
Advertising Spark: Reagan's 1987 Speech Repurposed
The contentious ad, funded by the province of Ontario, featured excerpts from Reagan's 1987 national radio address, where he warned that "such trade barriers hurt every American worker and consumer." The commercial aired during the first two games of the World Series between the Toronto Blue Jays and Los Angeles Dodgers, reportedly amassing one billion views and drawing international attention, including from the UK and India.
Carney, speaking at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in South Korea, distanced himself from the campaign, calling it "not something I would have done" and revealing he had advised Ontario Premier Doug Ford-who oversaw the ad-against proceeding with it. Trump, who described the ad as "wrong" in a Friday statement, acknowledged Carney's apology but reiterated his disapproval, while asserting their relationship remained "very good."
Diplomatic Fallout: Tariffs and Tensions
In retaliation, Trump halted trade talks with Canada and vowed to impose an additional 10% tariff on Canadian imports. The move compounds existing trade pressures: the U.S. currently levies a 35% tariff on most Canadian goods-though many are exempt under the U.S.-Canada free trade agreement-with targeted sectors facing higher rates, including 50% on steel and aluminum and 25% on automobiles.
Trump also accused Canada of using the ad to interfere in an upcoming U.S. Supreme Court case examining the legality of his tariffs on Canada, Mexico, China, and other nations. The dispute triggered a heated exchange between U.S. envoy Pete Hoekstra and Ontario trade representative David Paterson, with Hoekstra allegedly delivering an "expletive-laced tirade," according to Canadian officials. Ford condemned Hoekstra's remarks as "absolutely unacceptable" and demanded an apology to Paterson.
Broader Context: Trump's Tariff Strategy
The clash underscores Trump's aggressive tariff policy, which has targeted multiple countries since he took office. While the U.S. and Canada share a longstanding trade partnership, the ad controversy highlights persistent friction over protectionist measures-a theme likely to dominate future negotiations, if resumed.
"What he did was wrong."
Donald Trump, U.S. President, on Carney's handling of the ad
