Carney, Trump attend South Korea dinner after U.S. trade talks break down
Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump exchanged smiles and a brief point of acknowledgement as they sat down to dinner Wednesday evening.
Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump exchanged smiles and a brief point of acknowledgement as they sat down to dinner Wednesday evening — their first in-person encounter since trade negotiations between the two countries were abruptly halted last week.
The dinner, hosted by South Korean President Lee Jae-Myung, brought together a select group of world leaders attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit. Signs on the table read that the meal was in honour of Trump and state leaders.
Despite the cordial setting, Trump has repeatedly stated he has no intention of meeting with Carney during the APEC summit.
“For those that are asking, we didn’t come to South Korea to see Canada!” he wrote on Truth Social Tuesday evening.
The diplomatic chill comes after the collapse of trade talks last week, triggered by a controversial TV ad campaign launched by Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
The $75-million campaign aired in U.S. markets and featured edited excerpts from a 1987 radio address by former president Ronald Reagan criticizing tariffs. Trump claimed that the ad misrepresented Reagan and responded by walking away from negotiations.
Carney had called Ford from his plane on Friday morning before departing for Asia. Ford later said the ads would run through the weekend and pause on Monday, after the first two World Series games.
But Trump was not satisfied. On Saturday, he threatened to impose a new 10 per cent tariff on Canadian goods, though he has yet to specify what products it would apply to or when it would come into effect. Trump has insisted Carney saw the ad and allowed it to air—something Ford confirmed—though the Prime Minister’s Office has refused to comment.
Speaking to reporters Monday in Malaysia, Carney said trade negotiators were “very close to a deal” before the ad aired. “Everything changed from the perspective of the president,” he said.
He also emphasized the importance of Canada diversifying its economic relationships.
“We’re not resting because the return on building at home is far greater than the hit from trade turbulence with the United States. And the opportunities internationally are considerable,” Carney said.
The prime minister is also expected to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday during the APEC summit in what would be the first formal meeting between a Canadian prime minister and Xi since 2017.
The APEC summit officially begins Friday and runs through Saturday.
 | A guest post by
|