Photo by Chris Schwarz/Government of Alberta.
Premier Danielle Smith provided the following update on Alberta’s response to U.S. tariffs:
“It was reported yesterday that U.S. President Donald Trump has paused his threatened tariffs on Canadian goods until the commencement of so-called “reciprocal tariffs” scheduled to be placed on goods imported into the United States from all countries on April 2. The President is also now threatening to unilaterally place additional tariffs on other Canadian goods.
“Yesterday’s presidential executive order mandating the pause is unclear as to which goods it actually applies to and what legal forms and requirements will be needed to qualify.
“The Government of Alberta will therefore be moving forward with our tariff response until these questions have been adequately dealt with and the continued threats and unilateral imposition of tariffs in contravention of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) has stopped.
“The repeated pausing and unpausing of U.S. tariffs is causing great investment uncertainty and market volatility right across North America, and continues to confuse Canadians and Americans alike.
“Given the Canadian federal election is likely to be called within weeks, we ask the United States to abide by the terms of the CUSMA while the election is held, and then commence negotiations shortly thereafter with whomever ends up becoming Canada’s new Prime Minister.
"Doing so would not only show respect for the democratic process of a long-time military ally and trading partner, but would also calm markets, de-escalate tensions and demonstrate a good faith effort to respect the agreement negotiated by this very President during his first term while a new agreement is being negotiated between our countries that addresses outstanding trade irritants.”
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