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Canadian leader Doug Ford has called for a formal apology from the US ambassador to Canada after a heated conversation between the diplomat and the province's commerce official.

The encounter, characterized as an “expletive-laced tirade”, occurred between US envoy the ambassador and provincial trade representative the commerce delegate regarding a television advertisement that criticized trade policies.

Calling the comments “absolutely unacceptable” and “unbecoming of an ambassador”, the premier encouraged Hoekstra to apologize. “Pete, you have to call Dave up and apologise. It's simple,” Ford stated.

Last week, negotiations with Canada were suspended because of the commercial, with threats of an additional 10% tariff on goods from Canada.

“Understand, the cheese slipped off the cracker. I understand,” the premier said at a press conference, addressing the ambassador's outburst. “You're ticked off, but call the guy up because you're a good guy, and Dave's my champion.”

The commercial, paid for by the provincial administration, features a statement from former President Reagan stating tariffs “hurt every America”, taking excerpts from the former president’s 1987 broadcast about foreign trade.

The premier aimed to use the advert to sway public opinion on duties in right-leaning, Trump-backed regions. The leader has claimed the ad received “billions of views” and been seen by a global audience.

“What do they expect me to do? Sit back and acquiesce like others in the globe?” he asked.

The spot also aired during the initial championship matches between the Toronto Blue Jays and the American team, which the premier hailed as “the most successful ad in continental history”.

“It's being discussed in the United States, and it wasn't a topic before I put the ad on,” he added.

However, the advertisement has angered many in the administration, particularly President Donald Trump who threatened to increase duties on Canadian goods by ten percent “over and above” existing taxes after Ford’s action.

When questioned to expand on what the additional tariffs would entail, the president said, “I'm uncertain when it’s going to kick in, and we will observe, but I don’t really want to discuss it”.

There is currently a 35% tariff on Canadian goods, though the majority are excluded under an existing free trade agreement. Some industries, though, have individual duties, including 50% on steel and aluminium and 25% on automobiles.

On that day, the US senate voted to approve a resolution that would prevent the president's duties on Canada.

The narrow decision would terminate the emergency declaration used to impose duties on some goods from Canada.

But the proposal is not expected to receive the support needed in the lower congressional chamber.