Alberta Premier Smith Urges Diplomacy Amid US-Canada Trade Tensions
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has spoken out against retaliatory tariffs on energy exports to the US, calling them 'tragic, unjustified, and wholly unnecessary'. She is urging de-escalation of the trade war between Canada and the US, emphasizing the need for diplomacy. The ongoing trade tensions have already affected about $1.5 billion worth of Alberta exports to the south.
The proposed tariffs are in response to President Donald Trump's 50-per-cent levies on roughly $28 billion worth of Canadian products. Smith has called Trump's move 'tragic, unjustified, and wholly unnecessary'. She is pushing for an accelerated west coast pipeline project timeline and wants to export more oil and gas to eastern Canada.
The Alberta government will continue to support small and medium businesses affected by the tariffs, with Finance Minister Jason Nixon and Jobs Minister Joseph Schow co-chairing a cabinet committee to discuss business relief initiatives. The province will also launch an online portal for businesses to share feedback on tariff-related challenges.