Canadian PM Carney apologises to Trump over anti-tariff ad

November 1, 2025

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney issued an apology to President Donald Trump regarding a television advertisement funded by Ontario that criticized tariffs using quotes from former President Ronald Reagan. The commercial, which aired during World Series baseball games, prompted Trump to halt trade negotiations with Canada and threaten an additional 10% tariff on Canadian goods. Carney stated he had advised Ontario Premier Doug Ford against running the advertisement before it aired, but Ford proceeded anyway, leading to diplomatic tensions including heated exchanges between US and Canadian officials.

Who is affected

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney
US President Donald Trump
Ontario Premier Doug Ford
Canadian workers and consumers facing potential tariffs
US envoy Pete Hoekstra
Ontario trade representative David Paterson
American workers and consumers (referenced in Reagan's original speech)
Canada, Mexico, China, and dozens of other countries facing US tariffs

What action is being taken

Trump has suspended trade talks with Canada
Trump is imposing tariffs on Canadian goods (35% general tariff with exemptions, 50% on steel and aluminum, 25% on automobiles)
Trump is threatening to impose an additional 10% tariff on Canadian imports

Why it matters

This incident matters because it has disrupted diplomatic and trade relations between the United States and Canada, two major trading partners with deeply integrated economies. The advertisement controversy has provided Trump justification to suspend ongoing trade negotiations and threaten additional tariffs, which could harm workers, consumers, and businesses in both countries. The situation also demonstrates how sensitive trade discussions have become and how easily diplomatic incidents can escalate into economic consequences affecting millions of people.

What's next

A US Supreme Court case is upcoming that will determine whether Trump's sweeping tariffs on Canada, Mexico, China, and dozens of other countries are legal.

Read full article from source: BBC