Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she had a “very constructive” meeting with U.S. Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, adding that it’s clear many U.S. officials want the trade dispute settled soon.
Smith is in Houston, Texas, this week, saying she wants to make one more diplomatic push to de-escalate the trade conflict with the United States, while looking for new global markets for Alberta energy. She held a meeting with Burgum on March 11, where she says she highlighted the mutual importance of both economies and Canada’s role in helping the United States achieve energy security and dominance.
“It is clear to me that there are many in American leadership that are hopeful this challenging time will be resolved sooner rather than later,” Smith said in a March 12 social media
post. “I will continue my diplomatic efforts in the U.S. to see that happen as quickly as possible.”
Burgum and Smith’s meeting occurred on the same day the U.S.–Canada tariff conflict escalated after President Donald Trump threatened to raise tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum imports from 25 percent to 50 percent in response to Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s decision to
impose a 25 percent export tax on electricity his province provides to New York, Michigan, and Minnesota.
Trump later in the day
dropped his plan to raise the tariffs after Ontario suspended its electricity export surcharge, following a conversation between Ford and U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick, in which the two agreed to meet in Washington on March 13.
The universal U.S. tariffs of 25 percent on aluminum and steel
came into force on March 12, as scheduled. In response, Ottawa the same day
announced counter-tariffs worth $29.8 billion on U.S. products, including steel, aluminum, and others, to take effect on March 13. These tariffs are in addition to another round of tariffs on $30 billion worth of U.S. products implemented in early March in response to U.S. tariffs Trump has linked to his push to make Canada take action on fentanyl and illegal immigration through its borders into the United States.
Following a March 12 meeting with all Canadian premiers, Smith said she will continue to favour diplomacy, while responding to “unjustified” tariffs in a “proportional and measured” way.
“It is clear that the American public opinion, industry and U.S. leaders are opposing a continued trade dispute with Canada more and more with each passing day,” she said in a March 12
statement.
“We therefore need to avoid escalation, play the long game, and focus on getting to a mutually beneficial trade resolution with our American neighbours.”
Smith has already
adopted some retaliatory measures, such as suspending the purchase of U.S. goods and services for government procurement and avoiding future purchases of U.S. alcohol and video lottery terminals.
Her province has also taken steps to remove interprovincial trade barriers and her officials say they are working to establish new energy markets at home and abroad. Meanwhile, Smith has ruled out energy cuts or export taxes to the United States, a stance
shared by Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe.
Alberta Partners With Japan
During CERAWeek, an annual energy conference in Houston, Smith on March 11
signed a new agreement with Japanese state-owned corporation JOGMEC.
Signed by Ichiro Takahara, chairman and chief executive officer of JOGMEC, the memorandum of understanding renews Alberta and Japan’s commitment to cooperate in the development of the province’s oil, natural gas, hydrogen and ammonia, as well as emissions reduction technologies, while supporting job-creating investment opportunities, the provincial government said.
Japan and Alberta first
signed a memorandum of understanding for cooperation in the oil and gas sector in 2017,
renewing it in 2021 with a focus on supplying clean energy to Japan.
“JOGMEC has been one of our province’s most significant and long-standing partners in Asia and over the years has played a key role in supporting Japanese investment in our energy sector, which has helped fuel our economy and support jobs for Albertans,” Smith said in a March 11
statement.
“Through this agreement, Alberta looks forward to building on our long history of friendship to advance our mutual priorities and work together to secure Alberta and Japan’s energy future.”
Japan is Alberta’s third-largest export market
after the United States and China. Last year, the province exported nearly $2.7 billion to Japan, with $1 billion coming from energy exports.
