Prime Minister Mark Carney expressed uncertainty about the potential revival of trade discussions with the United States, following an apology to President Donald Trump for the termination of negotiations due to an advertisement campaign. When questioned about the status of his talks with Trump and the possibility of resuming negotiations, Carney simply stated, “We’ll see.” The prime minister clarified that the talks have not been reinitiated during a news conference addressing his government’s recently introduced budget.
Carney revealed that his last conversation with Trump occurred the previous week at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, where he apologized to the president regarding the TV commercials. Trump abruptly halted trade talks on October 23 and threatened additional punitive tariffs on Canadian products, attributing the decision to an Ontario government-supported campaign featuring footage of former U.S. president Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs.
Despite the ad being pulled by Ontario Premier Doug Ford, the trade discussions remain stagnant. Canada aims to secure an agreement to eliminate sector-specific tariffs, particularly on steel and aluminum. Trump, in response to queries from reporters, indicated on Friday that negotiations with Canada would not resume, while commending Carney as “nice” and acknowledging the error in the advertisement.
Carney mentioned that he had previewed the ad before its broadcast and advised Ford against it. Ford, however, stated that Carney had contacted him multiple times from Asia requesting the withdrawal of the TV spots. Trump emphasized his displeasure with the situation but praised Carney’s character.
B.C. Premier David Eby announced the termination of a plan to broadcast advertisements targeting Trump’s tariffs, citing concerns raised by the federal government. Eby affirmed a commitment to collaborate with the federal government when directly addressing American audiences. Trump’s proposed 10% tariff hike on Canadian imports has not been formalized through an executive order or specified timeline.