Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney revealed that trade negotiations with the US had been interrupted by tv advertising by the Ontario provincial government. A 1987 ad utilizing Ronald Reagan's 1987 message criticizing customs led to president Donald Trump breaking up talks.
"A series of very detailed, very specific, very comprehensive discussions and negotiations (...) until these ads came out," said Carney during a press conference at the ASEAN summit in Malaysia. The Prime Minister added that there was advancement in the negotiations, but now "we are in the situation we are in."
Prime Minister's reaction to criticism
When asked about the actions of Ontario Prime Minister Doug Ford, Carney replied, "It's not worth being dissatisfied, emotions won't take you besides far." He added that in complicated negotiations 1 can anticipate "unexpected returns" and "need to approach specified cold situations".
The CBC public broadcaster cited those active in the negotiations who claimed that the anti-American rhetoric of the Ontario Prime Minister had been a problem for negotiators for many months. Carney, however, stressed that Canada is ready to return to the talks erstwhile the US wants to return to them.
Escalation of the trade conflict
Trump announced on Thursday evening that trade talks were broken due to advertising. Following Ford's announcement that advertising would be broadcast by Monday, the president of the United States raised duties on imports from Canada on Saturday by an additional 10%.
On Monday, Trump repeated his opinions that Canada "has been robbing us for a long time and they will no longer do so." The US president besides added that he did not want to meet with the Prime Minister of Canada.
British Columbia announced its own advertising run in the US about the effects of American customs. Provincial Prime Minister David Eby wrote on X that "Americans must hear customs rise prices".
Sources used: "PAP" Note: This article was created utilizing Artificial Intelligence (SI).
