Smith Rejects Plan to Use Oil Exports as Leverage in US Trade War

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith strongly opposed using Canadian oil exports as leverage in the U.S. trade war, calling such a move 'disastrous' for the Canadian economy.

Smith's stance comes after calls from Alberta NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi and former Alberta premier Jason Kenney to consider using energy exports to retaliate against U.S. President Donald Trump's latest round of tariffs.

'I cannot think of a more disastrous policy decision than cutting off or taxing Alberta's oil to the United States,' Smith said in prepared remarks on Wednesday.

She emphasized that such a move would prompt the U.S. to slap fresh levies on Canadian energy products, crippling eastern provinces like Ontario and Quebec that rely heavily on U.S. imports.