Overview
- Prime Minister Mark Carney said he apologized directly to President Trump during APEC meetings in Gyeongju after the president felt insulted by an Ontario anti-tariff TV spot.
- Carney offered to restart negotiations and said Canada is ready for a better trade deal if Washington agrees, but Trump has signaled he will not resume talks for now.
- The Ontario ad used 1987 remarks by Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs; the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute distanced itself, saying the speech was misrepresented.
- Ontario Premier Doug Ford commissioned the campaign and later paused it after the U.S. suspended talks and announced additional tariffs on Canadian goods.
- Carney said he had discussed the spot with Ford before it aired and argued against running it, emphasizing federal responsibility for managing the U.S. relationship.