Alberta Premier Danielle Smith celebrated a significant victory for Canada and Alberta Wednesday, following indications the United States will maintain the majority of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) amid ongoing trade tensions.
The decision, which Smith described as a triumph of diplomacy, ensures tariff-free access for most Canadian goods into the U.S. market, though challenges remain with tariffs on key industries like steel and vehicles.
“Today was an important win for Canada and Alberta, as it appears the United States has decided to uphold the majority of the free trade agreement (CUSMA) between our two nations,” Smith said in a statement.
She noted the U.S. appears committed to preserving the deal “until after the Canadian Federal election has concluded and the newly elected Canadian government is able to renegotiate CUSMA with the U.S. Administration.”
Smith emphasized the decision aligns with her long-standing advocacy — which has been called traitorous by the political left.
“This is precisely what I have been advocating for from the U.S. Administration for months,” she said.
The move secures zero tariffs on a wide range of Canadian exports, including “energy, minerals, agricultural products, uranium, seafood, potash and [a] host of other Canadian goods,” an outcome Smith hailed as a boon for Alberta’s resource-driven economy.
However, the victory is not complete. Smith pointed to lingering U.S. tariffs on Canadian automobiles, steel, and aluminum as unresolved issues requiring urgent attention.
“There is still work to be done of course,” she acknowledged. “Unfortunately, tariffs previously announced by the United States on Canadian automobiles, steel and aluminum have not been removed.”
She urged premiers and the federal government to redirect their efforts toward eliminating these remaining barriers and supporting affected workers “generously” until a resolution is reached.
Smith also doubled down on her call for a measured approach in negotiations.
“I again call on all involved in our national advocacy efforts to focus on diplomacy and persuasion while avoiding unnecessary escalation,” she said. “Clearly, this strategy has been the most effective to this point.”
Looking ahead, Smith framed the tariff dispute as a wake-up call for Canada to reduce its economic reliance on the U.S.
“As it appears the worst of this tariff dispute is behind us (though there is still work to be done), it is my sincere hope that we, as Canadians, can abandon the disastrous policies that have made Canada vulnerable to and overly dependent on the United States,” she said.
Smith advocated for bold steps to bolster national independence, including fast-tracking “national resource corridors” and removing barriers to “provincial resource development” to transform Canada into “an independent economic juggernaut and energy superpower.”
