Key facts
- Alberta is pursuing a diplomacy-first approach in Canada's trade dispute with the US.
- The province has experienced a disproportionately low impact from US tariffs.
- Alberta is the only Canadian province without retaliatory tariffs on US alcohol imports.
- Energy exports are exempt from recent US tariffs on Canadian goods.
- Canada has implemented new counter-tariffs on US cheese, honey, and aluminum foil.
As Canada escalates its trade dispute with the United States, the province of Alberta is adopting a distinct strategy focused on diplomacy and engagement rather than retaliation. Premier Danielle Smith has pushed for a softer approach, which her government believes is yielding positive results.
Nathan Cooper, Alberta's top representative in the US, told CBC's "West of Centre" podcast that the premier's "diplomacy-first approach" has been beneficial for the province. He noted that Alberta has experienced a "disproportionately low impact" from US tariffs compared to other Canadian provinces. Cooper suggested that US officials have been "significantly more responsive" to Alberta, partly due to the province's decision to remain the only one without a ban or retaliatory levy on US alcohol imports.
Alberta's economy also benefits from exemptions on energy products, a key sector for the province, from recent US tariffs. While other provinces and Canada as a whole have implemented counter-tariffs on goods like cheese, honey, and aluminum foil in response to US levies, Alberta has largely abstained from such measures. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has also advocated for keeping oil and potash out of the trade conflict.
The broader trade tensions between Canada and the US continue to escalate, with months of negotiations failing to yield a comprehensive trade deal. The dispute has also seen symbolic actions, such as President Trump's executive order to rename Lake Ontario "Lake America," a change adopted by US mapping services but not by Canada.