Donald Trump has stated it will be “a long time” before he meets Prime Minister Mark Carney, following a dispute over a Canadian government TV ad that criticised U.S. tariffs. The President ended trade talks with Canada and subsequently announced a 10 per cent increase on Canadian imports after the ad aired during the World Series.

Both leaders attended the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Malaysia but did not meet. When asked if he planned to meet Carney at the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation Forum in South Korea,

Mr. Trump said, “I don’t want to meet with him. I’m not going to be meeting with him for a long time.”

Mr. Carney said he has not spoken to Mr. Trump since trade negotiations were terminated last Thursday. He noted that Canada had made significant progress and concessions during six months of talks, including removing a proposed digital sales tax affecting U.S. tech companies and repealing retaliatory tariffs. “That’s a question for him,” Carney said regarding the sudden breakdown in negotiations, while affirming he remains ready to engage in talks.

Carney also described contingency plans if negotiations do not resume, including expanding trade with Europe and Asia. He signed a letter of intent with Malaysia to increase investment in liquefied natural gas, oil, nuclear, and renewable energy, and said Canada aims to produce 50 million tonnes of LNG annually by the end of the decade. The upcoming federal budget will include “generational investments” to strengthen the Canadian economy.

He noted that the U.S. has incentives to reach a trade deal, as Canada supplies roughly 60 per cent of American aluminium, which would be costly to replace.

The dispute arose from the Ontario TV ad, which used edited footage of former President Reagan criticising protectionism. Mr. Trump stated the ad misrepresented Reagan’s comments and cited it in raising tariffs, although the timing and scope of the 10 per cent increase remain unspecified.