Canadian PM Mark Carney apologizes to Trump over Ronald Reagan ad that halted trade talks

GYEONGJU, SOUTH KOREA: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters on Saturday, November 1, that he had apologized to President Donald Trump over a political advertisement that led Trump to abruptly end trade talks between the two countries.

“I did apologize to the president. The president was offended by the ad. It’s not something I would have done which is to put in place that advertisement, and so I apologized to him,” Carney told reporters.

He also confirmed that the apology happened during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit. 

The Ontario government had produced the ad, which aired prominently in the United States, including during the World Series, and triggered a sharp backlash from Trump.

Trump says trade talks unlikely to resume

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One after returning from South Korea, Trump confirmed Carney’s apology but said that the damage had been done.

“I like (Carney) a lot, but you know what they did was wrong. He was very nice," he said.

"He apologized for what they did with the commercial," Trump continued, but confirmed that they are unlikely to resume trade negotiations.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said that his provincial government pulled the ad shortly after it aired, claiming it had already achieved its goal of sparking a conversation about US trade policy.

Ad reportedly used Ronald Reagan's speech without permission

The controversial advertisement featured audio from a 1987 speech by former President Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs on foreign goods.

In the clip, Reagan warned that tariffs hurt “every American worker and consumer” and triggered fierce trade wars where "markets shrink and collapse, businesses and industries shut down, and millions of people lose their jobs."

After the ad’s broadcast, the Ronald Reagan Foundation said that it had reportedly not been contacted for permission to use the clip and also criticized the Ontario government for misrepresenting Reagan’s message.

Trump has repeatedly dismissed the ad as “fake,” noting that it repurposed footage from Reagan’s 1987 remarks delivered ahead of a trade meeting with Japan’s prime minister, a move that reignited tensions just as Washington and Ottawa sought to restart trade negotiations.

During the Canadian PM’s visit to the US, Trump acknowledged that trade discussions with Canada are “more complicated” than those they have with any other nation. He cited competing business interests and close geographical proximity.

Yet the president expressed optimism, saying, “I want Canada to do well,” specifically referencing the auto manufacturing sector.

When asked why Canada and the US had failed to reach an agreement, the president said, "It is a complicated agreement. More complicated than any other agreement we have on trade." 

"We have natural conflict. We also have mutual love. I love Canada and the people of Canada... We don't want to compete. It is a natural business conflict. We have come a long way in the last few months," Trump added. 

During the visit, Trump had praised the Canadian prime minister. Carney also returned Trump’s praise by underscoring Canada’s support for peace and security efforts.