Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to grant a 30-day reprieve on his threat to tariff imports from Canada shows that diplomacy works.
Trump agreed to the delay Monday afternoon following a phone call from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
In a statement posted to social media, Smith said she was “greatly heartened” to see the U.S. and Canada will crack down on illegal fentanyl trafficking at the border.
She noted that the agreement will see Canada appoint a fentanyl “czar” to work with U.S. authorities on the issue, something she said Alberta has been calling for after speaking to U.S. politicians and officials in Trump’s government.
“Diplomacy has won the day,” she said. “Let us ensure that continues as we know there is much more work ahead of us.”
Smith added that she is calling on other premiers and the federal government to “de-escalate rhetoric, abandon any non-tariff measures for the time being, and turn our efforts entirely to advocacy and good faith negotiation.”
Alberta agriculture and forestry businesses were bracing for a 25 per cent tariff on exports to the U.S. starting Tuesday. Oil and gas would be subject to a lower 10 per cent tariff.
Earlier Monday, premiers across Canada were announcing retaliatory measures like pulling all or some U.S. products from the shelves of liquor stores, but Smith, who has been accused of not following the Team Canada approach, was not among them.
The 30-day reprieve comes as Trudeau also offered to add drug cartels to the terrorist list, and launch a Canada-U.S. joint strike force on organized crime, fentanyl and money laundering.
The decision was announced hours after Mexico also received a 30-day pause on possible tariffs. Trump granted the delay after Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum promised to station 10,000 National Guard troops on the border with U.S.
NDP Leader Naheed Nenshi called on the government to create an all-party committee to find ways to increase Alberta’s trading partners and expand trade with other provinces.
“Let’s develop Alberta-made solutions in conjunction with Canada-wide policies to help protect Alberta businesses and workers if these tariffs come in 30 days, 90 days, or at all,” he said.
Scott Crockatt, vice-president with the Business Council of Alberta, said businesses are likely relieved about the delay. He said 30 days gives Canada a chance to start addressing issues like illicit drugs and defence spending below NATO requirements, while also looking for new markets.
Crockatt said Alberta should make free trade with the United States a priority.
“That should be our focus, much more than worrying about how we’re going to retaliate in the short term,” he said.
