Author: Abdul Jabbar
Publisher: Bouncer News
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith has denounced the new U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods, promising to work to reverse President Donald Trump’s move. In a X (formerly Twitter) post on Saturday, Smith decried the U.S. administration’s move to impose a 10% tariff on Canadian energy products and a 25% tariff on all other Canadian products.
Smith warned that this move would not only harm Canada but also harm the United States negatively by destroying the economic relationship between the two nations. She emphasized Alberta’s commitment to working with the federal government and other provinces to create a proportionate response to these tariffs.
“Alberta will use every available resource to persuade the U.S. president, Congress, and American people to abandon this self-destructive policy,” Smith said.
Alberta’s Campaign and Economic Contributions
Smith attributed the reduced 10% tariff on Canadian oil to the persistent lobbying of Alberta’s government and its oil industry. She highlighted Alberta’s contribution to assisting the U.S. economy by supplying crude oil for refining and processing in American manufacturing.
“It is worth mentioning that apart from energy exports, the U.S. actually benefits more from trade with Canada than vice versa,” Smith said. “Canada purchases more American goods than any other country—more than the U.K., France, Germany, Italy, and Vietnam combined. So, there is no economic reason to place tariffs on Canadian goods.”
Smith again committed Alberta to continuing diplomatic action in the U.S. to pressure the administration to lift these tariffs. She added that American consumers will see the direct effect of these policies, specifically higher gasoline prices.
Strategic Reaction to Tariffs
The premier recommended Canada counter U.S. tariffs by slapping import duties on American goods easily supplied by other nations. That way, she said, maximum economic pressure would be brought to bear on the U.S. and minimal financial cost would be imposed on Canadian consumers.
Furthermore, Smith said, any revenue generated by retaliatory tariffs should be directed towards helping Canadians most hurt by the trade standoff. But she rejected any policy that could hurt Canadian businesses, such as American banned exports or export tariffs on Canadian exports.
“Such retaliatory measures would hurt more Canadians than Americans,” she said. “Canada now must act vigorously to diversify its trade partners and break free of its single-market dependence.”
Tariff Impact on Alberta and American Consumers
Gary Mar, president and CEO of the Canada West Foundation, also expressed similar concerns, claiming tariffs on Canadian oil would add to the price of fuel for American consumers. Canada provides roughly 60% of U.S. crude oil imports, and Mar warned the tariffs would usher in unavoidable price hikes at the gas pump.
“There is no evading higher gasoline prices in the U.S. when tariffs are imposed on Canadian oil,” Mar explained. “This action is the antithesis of Trump’s vow to reduce fuel costs, and it could eventually turn out to be political poison.”
Mar foresees that when gas prices rise, American voters may rethink their support for Trump’s trade policies. He also suggested that the president’s action may be part of a larger strategy to revive the Keystone XL pipeline project, which requires the cooperation of Canada.
“The pipeline from Hardisty, Alberta, to the Montana border already exists,” Mar noted. “If Trump wants to make the U.S. an energy superpower, he can’t do it without Canadian oil and gas.”
Future Trade Strategies for Canada
Mar warned against drastic countermeasures such as an embargo on oil exports to the U.S., saying that doing so would shift public anger from Trump’s policies to Canada. Instead, he urged the Canadian government to adopt a measured and tactical response to the tariffs.
In the long term, Mar noted that Canada needs to diversify its reliance on the U.S. and seek alternative markets for its oil and gas exports. The Calgary Chamber of Commerce also weighed in, urging the federal government to place more emphasis on diplomacy than on swift retaliation.
“Retaliatory tariffs should be a last resort, especially given that American consumers will already be feeling the effects of Trump’s trade policies,” the chamber said. “Gas prices in the U.S. could increase by as much as 30 cents per gallon, affecting millions of American jobs that are linked to trade with Canada.”
Smith concluded by urging the expansion of Canada’s energy infrastructure, including the construction of new pipelines to the east and west coasts. She noted that the removal of regulatory barriers and the expansion of interprovincial trade would make the country more economically resilient.
“Alberta stands ready to assist in a unified national effort to defend our economic interests,” stated Smith. “This is a moment that demands leadership and judicious strategy to protect our prosperity.”