Canadian diplomats have been instructed to stop using cardboard cut-outs of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to promote their country abroad.
Life-size Trudeaus were spotted at an official tourism stand at the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, and at the Canadian consulate in Atlanta, Georgia, the BBC reports.
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However, the authorities in Canada did not share the joke and have instructed diplomats to put the replicas back in the cupboard.
Michael O'Shaughnessy, Canada's global affairs spokesman, told CBC: "We are aware of instances where our missions in the United States had decided to purchase and use these cut-outs.
"The missions have been asked to no longer use these for their events."
Trudeau's youthful charisma has attracted international attention and turned him into a major selling point for delegations promoting Canada abroad.
His first meeting with Donald Trump was the subject of particular mirth on social media.
A video clip of Trudeau resisting one of the US President's trademark aggressive handshakes went viral, as did photos appearing to show Trump's daughter, Ivanka, supposedly "swooning" as they were introduced.
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