By Dayo Ade Olusola | November 1, 2025
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has confirmed that he personally apologised to US President Donald Trump over a controversial anti-tariff political advertisement produced in Canada, describing the matter as “regrettable.”
Speaking to reporters on Saturday following an Asia-Pacific summit in South Korea, Carney said he had expressed his apology directly to Trump during a private dinner hosted by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol earlier in the week.
“I did apologise to the president,” Carney told journalists, confirming Trump’s earlier remarks. “I made it clear that I did not support the ad and had asked that it not be aired.”
Carney Opposed the Ad Before Broadcast
The advertisement in question was commissioned by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, a right-wing Conservative politician often likened to Trump for his populist style and rhetoric.
Read More: Mark Carney Named Canadian Prime Minister, Challenges Trump Over Tariff Threats
Carney said he had reviewed the ad before it was broadcast and made clear to Ford that he did not want it to proceed.
“I told Ford I did not want to go forward with the ad,” Carney said. “I made my opposition known before it aired.”
The ad featured a short clip of former US President Ronald Reagan warning that tariffs lead to trade wars and economic hardship. Its release drew a swift and sharp response from Washington.
Trump Retaliates with Tariff Hike
In retaliation, President Trump announced an increase in tariffs on Canadian imports and temporarily suspended trade talks with Ottawa.
The move marks a fresh escalation in cross-border trade tensions that had appeared to ease in recent months following Carney’s election earlier this year.
During his departure from South Korea earlier in the week, Trump said he had a “very nice” conversation with Carney during the dinner, but he later clarified on Friday that US-Canada trade negotiations would remain on hold.
Diplomatic Balancing Amid Broader Strains
Carney’s trip to Asia was part of a wider diplomatic effort to diversify Canada’s trade relationships and reduce its long-standing dependence on the US market.
He also held high-level talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Seoul on Friday, describing the meeting as “a turning point” in bilateral relations after years of frosty ties.
“The last formal meeting between a Canadian and Chinese leader was in 2017,” Carney said, referencing a brief encounter between then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Xi during a summit in San Francisco.
China Relations and Foreign Interference Concerns
Relations between Ottawa and Beijing have been strained by a series of flashpoints, including the detention and execution of Canadian citizens in China, as well as intelligence findings that Beijing interfered in at least two Canadian federal elections.
Carney confirmed that he discussed foreign interference and “other pressing bilateral issues” with Xi during their meeting.
“It was an open and constructive conversation,” Carney said. “We have disagreements, but both sides recognise the need for engagement.”
Reducing Reliance on the US
The Canadian leader said his Asia trip was aimed at accelerating trade diversification and reducing economic vulnerability tied to the US market.
“It can’t happen overnight, but we’re moving very fast,” he said, noting that Canada is working on new trade initiatives across the Asia-Pacific region.
Despite the diplomatic turbulence, Carney said he remained “optimistic” that US-Canada relations would stabilise once both sides “move past the political noise.”
