Alberta says it’s pausing its new U.S. procurements policy that prevents government departments, agencies, school boards, municipalities, and Crown corporations from purchasing goods and services from U.S. companies.
In March, the province said it was asking the organizations not to purchase from the United States following U.S. tariff announcements on Canadian products, which Premier Danielle Smith said had “broken trust” with the country.
Service Alberta Minister Dale Nally said U.S. President Donald Trump has since put a hold on further tariffs and the province has decided to pause its procurement prohibition to pursue diplomacy until the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement (USMCA) is renegotiated.
“In the spirit of diplomacy Alberta has decided to also pause any further escalations,” Nally said in a statement to The Epoch Times.
Nally also said the government would continue with its existing ban on new purchases of U.S. alcohol and video lottery terminals (VLTs) through the Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Commission (AGLC).
Alberta Opposition NDP critic for jobs, economy and trade, Rhiannon Hoylehas said the government’s decision to pause the procurement policy won’t help local businesses and demonstrated a lack of leadership.
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“They should be supporting Albertans, supporting Team Canada. Instead, we have this government supporting Team Trump,” she said.
The announcement comes after the province launched a buy local campaign to encourage residents to support Alberta-made goods.
“Now, more than ever, we need to shop local and buy made-in-Alberta products,” Minister of Agriculture R.J. Sigurdson said in an April 14 release.
“The next time you are grocery shopping or go out for dinner or a drink with your friends or family, support local to demonstrate your Alberta pride. We are pleased tariffs don’t impact the ag industry right now and will keep advocating for our ag industry.”
U.S. tariffs of 25 percent are currently in place on Canadian steel, aluminum, and auto manufacturers, and 10 percent tariffs on energy. Tariffs are not imposed on Canadian imports that are covered under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada free trade agreement (USMCA).
Alberta Tariff Response
Alberta announced its response to U.S. tariffs on March 5, saying it was taking U.S. liquor off shelves, following a similar move by other provinces.
Smith said she supported the federal government’s measures, which put retaliatory tariffs of 25 percent on $30 billion worth of U.S. good, including steel and aluminum. Canada has also announced a 25 percent tariff on non-USMCA compliant vehicles.
However, Smith said she was opposed to Ottawa potentially putting tariffs on oil and gas exports to the United States. She citing it as a reason for not signing a joint statement between the federal government and premiers in January on a united response to tariffs.
Carolina Avendano and The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
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