Canada’s Carney apologises to Trump over Reagan ad

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney apologized to US President Donald Trump for the anti-tariff political ad and told Ontario Premier Doug Ford not to air the ad.

Speaking to reporters after attending the Asia-Pacific summit in South Korea, Carney said he privately apologized to Trump when they attended a dinner hosted by the South Korean president on Wednesday.

“I apologized to the president,” Carney said, confirming Trump’s comments on Friday.

Carney also confirmed that he reviewed the ad with Ford before it aired, but said he opposed its use.

“I told Ford I did not want to continue advertising,” he said on Saturday.

Commissioned by Ford, an outspoken Conservative politician who has sometimes been compared to Trump, the ad features a quote from the Republican icon and former President Ronald Reagan saying tariffs are leading to trade wars and economic disaster.

In response, Trump announced he would raise tariffs on goods from Canada, and Washington halted trade talks with Canada.

While leaving South Korea earlier this week, Trump stated that he had a “very nice” conversation with Carney at that dinner, but did not go into detail.

On Friday, Trump still said the U.S. and Canada would not restart trade talks.

Carney said his talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday marked a turning point in relations after years of tensions.

The last official meeting between Canadian and Chinese leaders took place in 2017, when then-Prime Minister Justin Trudeau had a brief meeting with Xi at a meeting in San Francisco.

Canadian citizens have been detained and executed in China in recent years, and Canadian security officials have concluded that China interfered in at least two federal elections.

Carney said he discussed foreign intervention with Xi, among other issues.

Carney said the Asia trip was part of Canada’s efforts to reduce its dependence on the United States.

“It can’t happen overnight, but we’re moving very quickly,” he said.