Smith Defends Tennessee Trip Amid Trade War
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has defended her upcoming personal trip to Tennessee, saying it's not sending the wrong message amid an active trade war between Canada and the US. The trip, which is scheduled for later this week, will see Smith meet with the head of the city's chamber of commerce, state tourism commissioner Mark Ezell, and the chief executive of a Nashville tourism marketing agency.
Smith has stated that her goal in visiting Tennessee is to learn more about how Calgary can position itself as 'Nashville north' and boost investment in the music industry. She pointed out that Nashville made changes 25 years ago to become a music industry haven and economic powerhouse, and she wants to find out what this looks like.
Smith emphasized that her trip is not just about diplomacy efforts during the trade dispute but also about exploring opportunities for Alberta's tourism economy. She mentioned that Nathan Cooper, Alberta's senior representative to the US, will join the meetings in Tennessee.
The trade war between Canada and the US has been ongoing since last month, with Ottawa announcing retaliatory tariffs set to take effect on September 8. The US had previously imposed 50% tariffs on $27.6 billion worth of Canadian goods starting August 22.