As U.S. President Donald Trump renews his tariff threat on Canadian products, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says diplomacy, not retaliation, is the best way for the country to stifle the risk of punishing new trade sanctions.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has complicated ongoing negotiations with the U.S. after newly inaugurated President Donald Trump set a date to impose tariffs against Canada. Smith told reporters at a Tuesday morning news conference the focus should be on diplomacy and ending talks about retaliatory tariffs.

Canada’s top export to the United States is energy products, mostly oil and gas. Almost all of the crude oil that Canada exports goes to the U.S., and most of it comes from Alberta. Alberta exports about 80 per cent of the crude oil it produces.

The premier of Canada’s oil-rich province of Alberta says she would not support any move to stop energy shipments to the United States as a way to combat U.S.

Trudeau blasted Smith, reminding her that the federal government bought the Trans Mountain pipeline, which now has a C$34.5 billion price tag, giving Alberta its only route to export oil from Canada’s Pacific coast.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says while she doesn't want to assume anything after her meeting with U.S. president-elect Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago residence over the weekend, Canada needs "to be prepared" that threatened tariffs are on the way.

After US President Donald Trump took a call on Canada tariffs in his first few hours in office, the Canadian response at federal and provincial level seemed scattered with Alberta choosing a wait-and-watch stance while BC Premier David Eby said it will hurt families,