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Posted on August 13, 2026 by Ryan Dahlman

Southern Alberta Newspapers

Amid renewed tariff threats from the United States, Premier Danielle Smith says the province will not join the majority of Canada in taking American products off the shelves in Alberta liquor stores.

Alberta and Saskatchewan stand alone among Canadian provinces in continuing to carry American alcohol in liquor stores. While they joined the rest of the country in the initial pull of U.S. product in February last year, both the prairie provinces resumed importing American alcohol in June 2025.

Despite government leaders discussing an all-hands-on-deck approach to combatting the recent round of tariffs, which are scheduled to hit select Canadian exports with a 50 per cent tariff starting Aug. 19, Smith says U.S. liquor will not be considered in Alberta’s response.

“I think people should understand that the Americans have not banned a single product from Canada from going into the United States. It’s a pretty extraordinary measure to put a ban in place,” she said on her radio show on July 25.

Smith says the decision was made after retailers argued they would have to absorb the cost of inventory they weren’t permitted to sell. Her government has taken a laissez-faire approach.

“Let’s let retailers make the choice about whether they want to stock the shelves and let’s let customers decide about whether they want to buy those products,” she said.

Other provinces have allowed inventories of American products to be sold off with the proceeds going to charity.

Ninety-seven per cent of Alberta goods are not currently exposed to U.S. tariffs. Smith says her goal is to increase that portion to 100 per cent, but she favours diplomacy over counter-tariffs or product restrictions.

Smith has also resisted calls to use Alberta oil as leverage in trade negotiations with the U.S.