A new online portal has been created by Alberta to collect information on how businesses are being affected by U.S. tariffs and Canadian counter-tariffs.
This will help shape Alberta’s response to real-world tariff impacts across sectors, ensuring decisions reflect the experiences and challenges that Alberta businesses are facing, said the Government of Alberta.
“Alberta businesses create jobs, drive investment and help power the Canadian economy. Tariffs and counter-tariffs put that growth at risk by raising costs and making it harder to do business on both sides of the border. We’ll keep fighting for free and fair trade with the United States while working directly with Alberta businesses to protect jobs, investment and growth here at home,” said Premier Danielle Smith.
The government said the portal launches as businesses continue to assess the impact of recent U.S. tariffs and Canada’s planned retaliatory measures. Alberta continues to advocate for a fair and free trade relationship with Canada’s biggest trading partner and closest ally. Tariffs hurt the economy, create pressure for businesses, risk jobs and increase costs for families on both sides of the border. The province is calling for the dispute to be resolved through diplomacy and constructive negotiations with the United States, it added.
“At a time of uncertainty, we are committed to working with our business community and understanding the direct impact the tariffs and counter-tariffs are having on them. Alberta has shown great resilience since the tariffs were put in place eighteen months ago, and our goal as a government is for that to continue. Alberta businesses are the economic engine of this nation, and their contribution is essential to its prosperity,” said Joseph Schow, Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration.
The government said a cabinet committee has been recently established to coordinate the response across several ministries to support affected industries. Further to this, a recent meeting of the Alberta Trade Advisory Council was hosted by Smith and Schow, which brought together industry and business leaders from across the province to share the impacts they are facing from U.S. tariffs and Canadian counter-tariffs.
“Small businesses are encouraged to see the government taking the time to understand tariff impacts. Retaliatory measures hit small- and medium-sized enterprises particularly hard, with 60 per cent importing goods compared to 20 per cent exporting. Support is critical to help businesses manage costs and uncertainty,,” said Keyli Loeppky, senior director of Alberta and interprovincial affairs, Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses (CFIB).
“Tariffs and counter-tariffs are creating uncertainty and, for some Alberta businesses, real costs. Government needs clear, timely information about where those pressures are being felt. We encourage any and all impacted businesses to share their experiences with the province so its response can be practical, targeted and focused on protecting investment, jobs and growth. We appreciate Premier Smith and the Alberta government’s willingness to listen and respond as circumstances evolve,” added Adam Legge, president, Business Council of Alberta.
Information collected from Alberta businesses will help identify sector-specific effects of U.S. tariffs and Canadian retaliatory measures, including changes to costs, investment decisions, market access, competitiveness, employment and supply chains. For more Information: https://www.alberta.ca/tariff-related-resources-for-alberta-businesses
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