Texas-bound: Canadian politicians slam U.S. tariffs (politely) during visit to Lone Star state

Amid an increasingly heated game of tariff-related chicken, Canadian politicians are in Houston telling Americans they're fed up — in the most stereotypically Canadian way possible.

"I don't think friends do that to friends," Alberta Energy Minister Brian Jean said, speaking onstage Tuesday during a panel discussion at CERAWeek by S&P Global that also featured Ontario Energy Minister Stephen Lecce and Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe.

The trio of politicians were at the conference as the tariff fight heated up then cooled off within the course of a couple of hours. Ontario Premier Doug Ford had promised a 25 per cent surcharge on electricity imports to the United States, U.S. President Donald Trump fired back with staggering tariffs on steel and aluminum, and ultimately both parties pulled back and agreed to talk it out.

Is this enough to make Lecce mad?

No, but he is "offended," he told CBC News in an interview following the panel discussion.

"I think about my own dad who immigrated through Ellis Island, New York," Lecce said. "I mean, we are family and this is unjust."

The terms "family" or "friends" were alternately and repeatedly used onstage to describe the relationship between Canada and the U.S.

While they agreed it's normal to have disagreements in close relationships, Moe said, the "tariffs and escalating counter-tariffs [do] nothing to benefit the North American family."

Some of the chaos was reflected in the stock market, where indexes plummeted on Tuesday before bouncing back slightly before the day's end.

Jonathan Wilkinson, Canada's energy and natural resources minister, who is also in Houston, struck a stern but polite tone about the tariff fight.

"The people of Canada expected their government was going to step up and respond. They're not going to think their government is going to be a patsy and let the Americans do whatever they want," he said.

On Tuesday, Wilkinson met face to face with U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright.

"I think we both left understanding a little bit more of the perspectives of the other side, and I'm hopeful that he will be a voice for trying to find ways to de-escalate and eventually get these tariffs removed," Wilkinson told CBC News, referring to Wright's career in the oilpatch, including projects in Alberta.

The White House had previously announced a 10 per cent tariff on imports of Canadian energy. However there has been confusion among some industry officials and analysts after tariff exemptions were made for products compliant with the current free-trade deal between the two countries.