Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney revealed that he advised Ontario’s premier not to run an anti-tariff advertisement which led U.S. President Donald Trump to end trade talks with Canada. Carney also confirmed that he apologized to Trump during a dinner at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, acknowledging that the president was “offended” by the ad.
The controversial Ontario television ad, which aired in the U.S., criticized Trump’s tariffs by quoting a speech from former U.S. President Ronald Reagan. The advertisement infuriated Trump, prompting him to terminate trade negotiations with Canada and announce plans to increase tariffs on Canadian imports by an additional 10%.
When asked about Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s reaction to Carney’s request not to run the ad, Carney responded, “Well, you saw what came of it.” He added, “It’s not something I would have done,” during a news conference as he concluded a nine-day trip to Asia.
Ford, a populist Conservative, and Carney, a Liberal, represent different political sides. As premier, Ford holds a position equivalent to a U.S. governor. Carney emphasized the distinction in roles, stating, “I’m the one who is responsible, in my role as prime minister, for the relationship with the president of the U.S., and the federal government is responsible for the foreign relationship with the U.S. government.”
A spokesperson for Ford did not immediately respond when asked if Carney had explicitly told him not to run the ad. Previously, Ford mentioned that Carney and his chief of staff had viewed the advertisement before its release. Although Ford pulled the ad last Monday, he allowed it to be broadcast during the first two games of the World Series.
President Trump criticized the ad for misrepresenting Reagan’s position. Reagan, a two-term president and a respected figure in the Republican Party, was known for his wariness of tariffs. The 1987 speech featured in Ontario’s ad notably outlined the case against tariffs.
Trump has also claimed the ad aimed to influence the U.S. Supreme Court ahead of upcoming arguments concerning his authority to impose broad tariffs, a central element of his economic strategy. Lower courts had previously ruled that Trump exceeded his authority.
Carney met with Trump at the White House last month and has been working to secure a trade agreement that could lower tariffs on key sectors such as steel and aluminum. These tariffs have severely impacted the aluminum, steel, auto, and lumber industries.
With more than three-quarters of Canadian exports heading to the U.S., approximately 3.6 billion Canadian dollars ($2.7 billion) worth of goods and services cross the border daily, underscoring the importance of the trade relationship between the two countries.
https://www.wptv.com/world/canadian-prime-minister-says-he-told-ontarios-premier-not-to-run-anti-tariff-ad-that-upset-trump