Nathan Cooper, Alberta's senior representative to the United States, credits Premier Danielle Smith's diplomacy-first approach as the reason for Alberta's relatively low impact from US tariffs in the trade war. According to Cooper, American officials have been "significantly more responsive" to his team compared to other provinces, with Alberta being the only province without a ban or retaliatory levy on US alcohol imports. This stance has apparently earned Alberta some goodwill from Washington, with US oil imports from Canada increasing despite the trade tensions. Experts suggest that Alberta's approach may be paying off, but it differs from the more aggressive strategies employed by other provinces like Ontario and Quebec.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Nathan Cooper, Alberta's senior representative to the United States, says that the province's diplomacy-first approach, led by Premier Danielle Smith, has paid off in the Canada-US trade war. Despite the trade dispute, the US continues to increase its imports of Canadian oil, and Alberta's industries have been less affected than others. Cooper credits Smith's diplomatic efforts for this outcome, saying that American officials are more responsive to his team than those from other provinces. This approach has given Alberta an edge in negotiations, with experts noting that the province's disproportionately low impact on the trade war suggests its strategy is working. The comments come after a recent meeting between Smith and Cooper in Nashville, Tennessee.
Written for “Canada Trade Diplomacy Efforts” on 2026-09-07,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Why Alberta is diplomacy-first in the trade war
Alberta's Washington envoy says province's position on alcohol gives it an edge
Alberta’s top U.S. diplomat
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diplomat → say → edge
says playing nice is paying off for his province in the Canada-U.S. trade war.
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playing → say → war
Nathan Cooper, Alberta’s senior representative to the United States, told CBC’s West of Centre that compared to provinces that have taken a more aggressive approach, Alberta has come out ahead.
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Alberta → tell → approach
“I think the premier’s diplomacy-first approach has really not only been helpful for me, but certainly helpful for the province,” Cooper said.
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Cooper → think → province
“If we look at the impact of U.S. tariffs on the Alberta economy, we have a disproportionately low impact.”
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we → look → impact
Experts have said while Alberta’s industries are not immune to the impact of the trade dispute, they are not seeing the direct hit other provinces are.
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provinces → say → hit
Despite the trade war, the U.S. continues to increase its imports of Canadian oil.
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U.S. → continue → oil
The comments come as Cooper, the former speaker of the Alberta legislature, spent time in Nashville, Tenn., with Premier Danielle Smith last week.
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Cooper → come → Smith
Cooper said American officials have been “significantly more responsive” to his team than some of his provincial counterparts.
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officials → say → counterparts
Alberta is the only remaining province with no ban or retaliatory levy on U.S. alcohol imports.
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Alberta → remain → imports
The province’s position on that is something the Americans have shown “a real appreciation” for, Cooper said.
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Cooper → show → appreciation
“I believe that that's actually translated into results for the province of Alberta,” he said.
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he → believe → Alberta
The premier said her trip to Music City was a personal one, but she took time to meet with business and tourism leaders while there.
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she → say → leaders
Ahead of her trip, Smith also appeared on U.S. news networks pushing for a return to the bargaining table.
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Smith → appear → table
Following Smith’s trip to Mar-a-Lago last year, she was called out for not being a part of a unified “Team Canada” response.
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she → follow → response
This summer, Premier Doug Ford pushed for Canadian leaders to take a stronger stance, and called for energy exports to be cut off to the U.S.
Smith’s predecessor, Jason Kenney, has said a modest tax on oil exports should be considered to put extra pressure on the president.
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tax → push → president
Smith has rejected both ideas and consistently said doubling down on diplomacy is a better approach.
“I think in this scenario, maybe Premier Smith is seen as a dissenting voice or not quite on script,” Evan Menzies, vice-president of Crestview Strategy said in an interview.
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Menzies → reject → interview
But Menzies, who previously worked as a director of communications for Smith’s party, said things look more favourable for Alberta when you zoom out.
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you → work → Alberta
“If you're to look at what's bearing good fruit, Alberta's efforts seem to be bearing some good fruit.”
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efforts → look → fruit
Smith’s too-friendly-to-resist approach contrasts against Ontario Doug Ford’s aggressive advertising and insult slinging.
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approach → resist → advertising
Cole Hogan, a strategic communications advisor at Alberta Counsel who has worked on Ford and Kenney campaigns, said the divergent tactics make sense considering domestic priorities.
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tactics → work → priorities
“Ford's approach, while it makes a lot of people feel good … it hasn't garnered the same results that Smith's approach has here in Alberta.”
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approach → make → Alberta
“They both have different political goals in doing so — they have different industries to serve.
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they → have → industries
Separation anxiety
All this comes amid a looming election in Alberta on whether to hold a binding referendum on separation — something U.S. officials are increasingly waking up to.
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officials → come → separation
It's been used by representative Andy Harris to trumpet renewed calls for a 51st state and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick as a sign of disunity and failed trade talks.
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It → use → disunity
On the ground, Cooper said the referendum isn’t frequently raised in his meetings with U.S. officials.
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referendum → say → officials
“At the end of the day, one of my key jobs is to try to determine the difference between signal and noise and do what I can to get people focused on the big issues that are impacting our province.”
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that → try → province
