'No choice' but to react to U.S. tariffs, Alberta premier says in supporting federal response
CBC
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says U.S. tariffs are "an unjustifiable economic attack on Canadians and Albertans" that represent a clear breach of the Canada-U.S.-Mexico free trade agreement.
"These tariffs will hurt the American people, driving up costs for fuel, food, vehicles, housing and many other products," Smith said in a statement Tuesday.
"They will also cost hundreds of thousands of American and Canadian jobs. This policy is both foolish and a failure in every regard."
U.S. tariffs came into effect Tuesday morning — 25 per cent on most Canadian goods, but 10 per cent on oil and gas products.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau immediately announced retaliatory tariffs on $30 billion worth of American goods.
In her statement, Smith said Alberta "fully supports the federal response." She said she will meet with her cabinet Tuesday and Wednesday to discuss Alberta's response. Details will be announced Wednesday, she said.
Earlier Tuesday, Smith was interviewed on CNBC about the tariffs.
"To see this escalation is so disappointing, so damaging initially to American consumers and American businesses who buy Canadian goods and raw materials," Smith told the U.S. cable news channel.
Americans and Canadians alike will feel the effects of the tariffs, Smith said.
"No one wins a tariff war," she said.
"I don't know why the president is behaving this way because it's illegal. We're going to challenge it and we would like to get back to negotiating some of the pressure points on that."
The tariffs come one month after Smith credited diplomatic efforts for helping Trump issue a temporary reprieve on the promised tariffs.
On Tuesday, Smith said Canada's premiers are standing united and will consider other retaliatory measures, such as replacing American goods with other sources within Canada and Mexico.
"We don't want to get there," she said on CNBC. "I mean, we don't want to escalate, we don't want to retaliate, but we have no choice but to have an equal and proportionate response."
On Tuesday afternoon, B.C. Finance Minister Brenda Bailey will present the province's 2025-26 budget, which will attempt to manage a ballooning deficit, protect services for British Columbians and respond to tariffs from the U.S. — a 25 per cent fiscal slap that comes on the same day.
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