Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says she expects some major industries, including those in her province, won't face new tariffs from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Smith told reporters Tuesday that things could change, but she thinks food production and oil and gas won't be targeted under Trump's new tariff plan, which is set to be announced Wednesday.
“I don't really want to get ahead of myself, because you never want to be wrong. But my inclination, from what I've heard from different administration officials, is that it looks like it's just going to be sectoral application for the most part,” she said.
Trump had imposed 25 per cent tariffs on Canada and Mexico at the beginning of March, with a lower 10 per cent levy on Canadian energy. But a few days later, he issued a one-month pause on most products.
Trump has referred to the looming tariff announcement as "Liberation Day" and said he'll move forward with reciprocal tariffs to match duties other countries currently impose on U.S. imports.
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Smith said that since Canada doesn't tariff imports of U.S. oil or most food products, she expects those industries to remain unscathed.
She doesn't think the automotive, pharmaceutical or timber industries will see the same fate, she said. She's also not expecting any relief for steel and aluminum manufacturers, which Trump hit with 25 per cent tariffs in March.
Smith said she'd like to see an exemption for all raw materials and goods exported to the U.S. and used as feedstock to make other products, given the benefits to American manufacturing.
"That's what I'm hoping to see tomorrow, but we really just won't know until we see the result," the premier said.
"From what I'm hearing, they still haven't settled on what it's going to look like tomorrow."
The Trump administration declined to provide further details ahead of Wednesday's announcement. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Tuesday the president wants to shift "our global economy to ensure that America is once again the manufacturing superpower of the world."
Smith didn't say if Alberta would alter its retaliatory response to U.S. tariffs — namely restricting American liquor sales and future government contracts with U.S. companies.
She said regardless of Wednesday's announcement, she plans to continue her strategy of meeting and talking with American officials and influencers to warn against the harms of tariffs.
She was criticized last week by the Opposition NDP for appearing on stage with U.S. conservative media personality and podcaster Ben Shapiro at a fundraiser for PragerU in Florida.
The United Conservative premier repeatedly denounced criticism of the trip. She said Tuesday that a podcast episode published following the event by Shapiro in which he talked about his opposition to tariffs was a sign of success.
"Those are the influencers that will have influence on the decision makers around the president," Smith said.
"I think we had to do a full-court press right to the last minute."
