Smith's Trade War Tone Sparks Tensions Among Canadian Premiers

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has come under pressure to adopt a more 'Team Canada' approach to the escalating U.S. trade war, following her comments on imposing counter tariffs on U.S. goods.

While most premiers backed Prime Minister Mark Carney's decision to impose dollar-for-dollar counter tariffs, Smith expressed concerns about the impact of retaliation on Alberta farmers, furniture makers, and apiarists.

'I know emotionally it feels good to retaliate, I get that,' she said. 'But... when retaliation happens, it means that everybody who is buying products from the United States are now going to face upwards of 50 per cent tariffs.'

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has urged Smith and other premiers to support counter-tariffs on oil and gas exports as a tool to force the U.S. to back off, saying 'it has to be a Team Canada approach.'