Alberta Premier Smith’s Knowledge of the Trump Tariffs: An Analysis

February 3, 2025 TruthUSA

Amidst the federal government and premiers’ announcement of retaliatory actions against U.S. tariffs and their criticism of the Trump administration, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith continually emphasized the need to “de-escalate the rhetoric” and maintain diplomatic relations.

Ultimately, a phone call between the leaders of both nations and Canada’s agreement to appoint a “fentanyl czar” and take other actions led to a pause in the tariffs. These were all measures previously advocated for by Smith.

Throughout the ordeal, Smith demonstrated a strong understanding of what the Trump administration desired. She credited this to her efforts in engaging with U.S. officials and elected representatives.

“Diplomacy has won the day. Let us ensure that continues as we know there is much more work ahead of us,” Smith stated while celebrating the pause in tariffs on Feb. 3.

On Feb. 1, Canada’s federal government revealed a detailed retaliation plan shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump announced tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China. The decision was motivated by concerns regarding drugs and illegal migrants entering America.

Mexico, initially planning retaliatory measures without specifying, experienced a similar outcome to Canada. Trump suspended tariffs for 30 days after President Claudia Sheinbaum pledged to deploy 10,000 troops to the border.

Diplomacy

Smith was the lone premier to visit Mar-a-Lago to meet Trump before his inauguration, aiming to dissuade him from imposing tariffs.

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“We all recognize that if the U.S. imposes tariffs, our country would need to respond proportionally,” she stated on Jan. 21 during her visit to Washington.

“However, escalating matters by discussing retaliation, showcasing strength, and planning to reciprocate against our ally is counterproductive when faced with a disagreement.”

Her call for level-headedness came as some premiers announced plans to enact retaliatory measures at the provincial level, such as removing American alcoholic beverages from liquor stores.

In the final days of January, prior to Trump’s announcement of implementing tariffs on Feb. 1, Smith urged the federal government to appoint a “border czar” to address the Trump administration’s concerns about drug flow and illegal migration at the border.

“The most immediate action we can take this week, in the next few days, to prevent tariffs is to demonstrate concrete action to secure the border,” she articulated on Jan. 29.

“This should commence with appointing a Canadian border czar to collaborate closely with the new American border czar in cracking down on fentanyl and illegal immigrants together.”

Shortly after Trump signed the executive order on Feb. 1 to proceed with the tariffs on Canada, Ottawa outlined a detailed retaliation plan.

Echoing the sentiments of the prime minister and other premiers, Smith expressed disappointment in the U.S. tariffs and reiterated that a proportional response would be most effective.

While other premiers commenced ordering retaliatory measures at the provincial level, Smith highlighted that her government’s diplomatic efforts secured an exemption for the energy sector, amounting to a 10 percent tariff instead of 25 percent, underscoring her commitment to continue diplomatic endeavors to persuade the U.S. administration to remove the tariffs.

Amid escalating tensions over tariffs, Smith authored an op-ed urging Canadian leaders to adopt a more measured approach to the issue.

“As Alberta’s premier, I call on my fellow premiers, the prime minister, and all national leaders to reduce the rhetoric as much as possible and prioritize diplomacy and advocacy to resolve this conflict,” she wrote in the National Post on Feb. 2.

She reiterated her plea for Canada to eliminate barriers to resource development projects, asserting the need for increased competitiveness in the country.

On Feb. 3, following Trudeau’s initial conversation with Trump, news broke that Trump agreed to halt tariffs on Mexico for 30 days after a commitment from President Sheinbaum to deploy 10,000 troops to curb the influx of fentanyl and illegal migrants.

Sheinbaum, akin to Trudeau, had signaled intent to retaliate in response to U.S. tariffs on Feb. 1 but had not disclosed specifics.

After their subsequent call on Feb. 3, Trudeau and Trump announced a 30-day pause on tariffs for Canada, with Ottawa agreeing to allocate fresh funding to combat drugs and money laundering, enhance border surveillance, and deploy 10,000 frontline personnel in line with the $1.3 billion border security plan previously announced.

The resolution also included the appointment of a “fentanyl czar” to address the flow of the illicit drug.

“The nomination of a Canadian fentanyl czar empowered to coordinate a substantial joint effort with the United States to target Fentanyl traffickers is a demand Alberta has made evident in discussions with U.S. officials and administration representatives, highlighting its importance in avoiding tariffs,” Smith commented following the agreement announcement.

She reiterated her call for Canadian leaders to pursue diplomacy, moderate their rhetoric, and affirmed her intention to return to Washington to continue diplomatic talks with U.S. officials.

“I reiterate my call to our federal officials and fellow Premiers to lower the rhetoric, shelve any non-tariff measures for now, and focus exclusively on advocacy and sincere negotiation,” Smith stated.

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