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.
Iran’s atomic energy chief says Tehran could dilute uranium enriched to 60 per cent if all international sanctions are lifted, stressing that techni...
The UK has pledged to step up engagement with Beijing after Hong Kong media tycoon and British citizen Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison, ...
Japan’s snap election has delivered a landslide victory for Sanae Takaichi, giving her a strong mandate to advance fiscal expansion and defence refo...
The U.S. Helsinki Commission is set to refocus attention on Georgia’s domestic political crisis and its faltering relationship with Washington with ...
Japan’s ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has secured a sweeping victory in Sunday’s lower house election, cementing her autho...
Iran’s atomic energy chief says Tehran could dilute uranium enriched to 60 per cent if all international sanctions are lifted, stressing that technical nuclear issues are being discussed alongside political matters in ongoing negotiations.
The U.S. Helsinki Commission is set to refocus attention on Georgia’s domestic political crisis and its faltering relationship with Washington with a 11 February briefing titled “Georgian Dream’s Growing Suppression of Dissent.”
Kazakhstan says it's significantly expanded its international air connectivity last year, reopening and launching flights to 30 countries according to data released by the country’s transport authorities. By the end of 2025, Kazakhstan was operating 135 international routes.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance will travel to Italy, Armenia and Azerbaijan from 9–11 February, accompanied by Under Secretary for Economic Affairs Jacob Helberg, underscoring Washington’s push to promote peace and economic connectivity in the South Caucasus.
U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised American freestyle skier Hunter Hess after the athlete said he felt conflicted about representing the United States at the Winter Olympics in Italy, sparking a public clash that highlights growing political tensions surrounding the Games.
Iran would retaliate by striking U.S. military bases across the Middle East if it comes under attack by American forces, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday (7 January), stressing that such action should not be seen as targeting the countries hosting those bases.
U.S. skiing great Lindsey Vonn underwent surgery in an Italian hospital on Sunday after her attempt to win Olympic downhill gold ended in a violent crash just seconds into the race at the Milano Cortina Winter Games.
A Japanese city near Mount Fuji has cancelled its annual cherry blossom festival, saying growing numbers of badly behaved tourists are disrupting daily life for residents.
Several avalanches struck northern Italy on Saturday, killing at least three people, as rescue officials warned the death toll could rise with unstable conditions persisting across the Alps.
Japan’s snap election has delivered a landslide victory for Sanae Takaichi, giving her a strong mandate to advance fiscal expansion and defence reforms. But, analysts warn that inflation risks and funding challenges could complicate her agenda.
Australia’s move to ban social media access for children under 16 has intensified a global debate, as governments across Europe and beyond weigh tougher rules amid growing concerns over mental health, safety and screen addiction.
The UK has pledged to step up engagement with Beijing after Hong Kong media tycoon and British citizen Jimmy Lai was sentenced to 20 years in prison, with the case resurfacing as a key issue following Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s recent trip to Beijing.
Venezuelan authorities said they were seeking court approval to put prominent opposition politician Juan Pablo Guanipa under house arrest on Sunday, shortly after he was seized by armed men in Caracas in what his son called a kidnapping.
Hong Kong’s most prominent media tycoon Jimmy Lai was sentenced on Monday (9 February) to a total of 20 years in prison on national security charges. The verdict covers two counts of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and one count related to publishing seditious materials.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment