Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on Saturday that he had apologised to U.S. President Donald Trump over an anti-tariff political advert and had instructed Ontario Premier Doug Ford not to air it.
Speaking to reporters after attending an Asia-Pacific summit in South Korea, Carney said he had delivered the apology privately to Trump during a dinner hosted by South Korea’s president on Wednesday.
“I did apologise to the president,” Carney confirmed, echoing comments Trump made on Friday.
He also acknowledged that he had seen the advert with Ford before it was broadcast but said he had advised against it. “I told Ford I did not want to proceed with the ad,” he said.
The advert, commissioned by Ford, a vocal Conservative often likened to Trump features a clip of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan warning that tariffs trigger trade wars and economic ruin.
In retaliation, Trump announced an increase in tariffs on Canadian goods, while Washington also suspended trade talks with Ottawa.
Departing South Korea earlier in the week, Trump described his encounter with Carney at the dinner as "very nice" but offered no details. On Friday, he reiterated that trade negotiations with Canada would remain on hold.
Carney said his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday marked a turning point in relations after years of strained ties.
The last formal meeting between Canadian and Chinese leaders took place in 2017, when then Prime Minister Justin Trudeau briefly spoke with Xi in San Francisco.
In recent years, several Canadian citizens have been detained or executed in China, and Canadian security agencies have concluded that Beijing interfered in at least two federal elections.
Carney said he had raised the issue of foreign interference, among other topics, in his discussion with Xi.
He added that his trip to Asia was part of broader efforts to reduce Canada’s dependence on the United States. "It can’t happen overnight, but we’re moving very fast", he said.
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Slovenia heads to the polls on Sunday (22 March) in a closely contested race between incumbent Prime Minister Robert Golob and right-wing former Prime Minister Janez Janša.
Iceland could reopen talks on joining the European Union after a 13-year pause, as shifting security concerns and renewed economic debate bring EU membership back to the centre of national politics.
Italy will vote on 22 and 23 March in a judicial reform referendum that could reshape the justice system and test Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s political strength ahead of the 2027 general election.
Start your day informed with the AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top stories for 21 March, covering the latest developments you need to know.
Israel reportedly launched a fresh wave of attacks on Iran on Friday (20 March), a day after U.S. President Donald Trump told it not to repeat its strikes on Iranian natural gas infrastructure, which sharply escalated the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran.
Carlos Ray “Chuck” Norris, the martial artist, actor and cultural icon best known for his roles in action films and the long-running CBS series Walker, Texas Ranger, has died at the age of 86.
President Donald Trump said the U.S. was considering "winding down" its military operation against Iran, as Iran and Israel traded attacks on Saturday (21 March) and Iranian media said the nuclear enrichment facility in Natanz had been attacked.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has refused to lift his opposition to a €90 billion ($104 billion) European Union loan to help Ukraine keep up its fight against Russia’s invasion, following a meeting of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday (19 March).
The trailer for Spider-Man: Brand New Day has officially become the most-watched trailer of all time, racking up 718.6 million views in its first 24 hours and surpassing the previous record set by Deadpool & Wolverine in 2024.
Cuba has rejected suggestions that the future of its political system or President Miguel Díaz-Canel’s term was discussed in talks with the United States, after reports Washington wanted him removed from power.
Fourteen people died and 25 were seriously injured in a fire at a car parts factory in the South Korean city of Daejeon, fire authorities said on Saturday (21 March).
U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators will hold talks in Miami on Saturday that could lay the groundwork for another meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a source familiar with the matter said.
Slovenia heads to the polls on Sunday (22 March) in a closely contested race between incumbent Prime Minister Robert Golob and right-wing former Prime Minister Janez Janša.
Iceland could reopen talks on joining the European Union after a 13-year pause, as shifting security concerns and renewed economic debate bring EU membership back to the centre of national politics.
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