Incensed Trump cancels trade talks with Canada over anti-tariff ad

TRENTON, Canada

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said Friday he is ready to restart trade talks after an angry US President Donald Trump abruptly canceled negotiations after the province of Ontario ran an anti-tariff advertisement.

“We can’t control the trade policy of the United States,” Carney said at an airport in Ottawa where he was departing for an Asian trip to the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, ironically promoting free trade.

Trump was incensed about an ad that ran featuring the late US President Ronald Regan condemning tariffs. The ad was aimed at Republicans, many of whom revere Regan. Ontario spent CAN$75 million on the ad campaign.

Carney said Friday the two countries had reached “detailed and constructive progress” toward trade relief on various products.

“We stand ready to pick up on that progress when the Americans are ready to have those discussions because it will be to the benefit of workers in the United States (and) workers in Canada.”

Trump called the ad “fake” and lashed out at Canada in a post on his Truth Social platfrom.

To drum up trade for Canada worldwide, Carney boarded a plane to Malaysia for the summit of the Association of Southeast Nations and then he was going to the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation in South Korea.

Canada is seeking diversified trading partners rather than just depending on one main partner, the US.

To that end, Carney is visiting the “Indo-Pacific region to deepen trade and defence relationships and unlock new economic opportunities,” according to the prime minister’s website.

TRENTON, Canada

Carney said Friday the two countries had reached “detailed and constructive progress” toward trade relief on various products.

“We stand ready to pick up on that progress when the Americans are ready to have those discussions because it will be to the benefit of workers in the United States (and) workers in Canada.”

Trump called the ad “fake” and lashed out at Canada in a post on his Truth Social platfrom.

Canada is seeking diversified trading partners rather than just depending on one main partner, the US.

To that end, Carney is visiting the “Indo-Pacific region to deepen trade and defence relationships and unlock new economic opportunities,” according to the prime minister’s website.