MEDICINE HAT, Alta. — Alberta is hitting back against tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
At a news conference on Wednesday in Medicine Hat, Premier Danielle Smith called the tariffs unjustified and a clear breach of the North American Free Trade Agreement, which Trump signed during his first term.
Smith said the tariffs amount to a betrayal of a deep and abiding friendship. In response, she announced several countermeasures. “First, I have directed my cabinet to alter our procurement practices to ensure the government of Alberta, along with our agencies, school boards, Crown corporations and all Alberta municipalities, purchase all needed goods and services from Alberta companies, Canadian companies, and from countries with which Canada has a free trade agreement that is being honoured,” Smith said.
Among the additional measures, Smith said Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis will no longer allow the purchase of U.S. alcohol or new video lottery terminals. She also directed her government to assist grocers and other retailers in labeling all Canadian products and asked them to voluntarily prioritize stock from Alberta, Canada or countries that uphold free trade agreements with Canada.
The provincial government will also launch an advertising campaign to help Albertans more easily identify where products on store shelves originate.
Smith said Alberta will pursue free trade and labour mobility agreements with any willing province, with the goal of eliminating all exceptions.
She also pointed to what she called Alberta’s “Trump card”—a reference to the U.S. president—saying Alberta’s energy resources give the province leverage. “U.S. consumers need it now and will need it more and more in the future,” she said, adding that doubling the amount of Canadian crude heading south is in the best interests of both countries.
The U.S. tariffs include a 25 per cent duty on all Canadian goods and a 10 per cent tariff on Canadian energy products.
With files from John K. White, Vista Radio.
