New U.S. tariffs set for Aug. 19 would spare Alberta, hit B.C. hardest
A University of Calgary economist finds Alberta faces almost no exposure to a new round of 50 per cent U.S. tariffs, while experts warn the uneven impact could split provinces apart.
Why it matters
Alberta's relative shelter from the new tariffs, unlike B.C. and Quebec, could shape how united Canada's provinces are in responding to U.S. trade pressure.
A new round of 50 per cent American tariffs on Canadian goods is scheduled to take effect Aug. 19, with no exemptions for products that comply with CUSMA. University of Calgary economist Trevor Tombe found the tariffs would hit B.C. hardest, affecting 13.7 per cent of its U.S. exports, compared with roughly one per cent for Alberta and Saskatchewan. Quebec would see 10.8 per cent of exports affected and Ontario nine per cent.
The Canada West Foundation, in a July 30 analysis, said Alberta and Saskatchewan are largely shielded because the U.S. has not applied tariffs to energy and potash exports. The think tank warned this uneven impact creates a "two-speed Western Canada" that could complicate a unified national response to U.S. trade pressure.
University of British Columbia political scientist Stewart Prest said the disparity could let the U.S. pursue a divide-and-conquer strategy by exploiting regional grievances. He noted Alberta and Saskatchewan's premiers have rejected using energy as leverage and have restored consumer sales of American alcohol, breaking with other provinces whose booze bans continue to draw U.S. criticism.
Prest also pointed to comments by U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who in January called Alberta a "natural partner for the U.S." with "very independent people," a remark tied to discussion of the province's separatism movement. Quebec's CUSMA envoy, Louise Blais, said the tariffs could be "absolutely catastrophic" for small communities in her province reliant on American clients.
Compiled by the Alberta Daily Desk — an AI-written summary of reporting from the credited sources below, produced and reviewed under our editorial policy.