**Alberta Premier Danielle Smith to Meet U.S. Officials Amid Ongoing Trade Dispute**
*Edmonton, Alberta – August 28, 2026* – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith is scheduled to meet with a delegation of United States officials next week. The meetings are set to take place in Nashville, Tennessee, and will include the commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, the head of the Nashville Chamber of Commerce, and the chief executive of the Nashville Convention & Visitors Corp.
Smith’s press secretary, Sam Blackett, confirmed that the premier’s trip, originally planned as a personal visit to the United States, will be used to discuss the current Canada‑U.S. trade dispute. Blackett said the premier will be accompanied by Alberta’s senior U.S. representative, Nathan Cooper.
In remarks made on Wednesday, following the collapse of Canada‑U.S. trade talks the previous week, Smith said the United States “has no excuse for their behaviour” but cautioned that Canada “cannot win through brute force.” She urged Canadian officials to continue emphasizing to their American counterparts that tariffs are harmful and to seek reversal of the measures.
The premier’s itinerary also includes participation in the Council of State Governments (CSG) Midwest’s annual Midwestern Legislative Conference in Saint Paul, Minnesota, from Sunday to Wednesday. Alberta Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) Jennifer Johnson, a backbencher in Smith’s United Conservative caucus, will serve as Alberta’s representative at the conference. Six members of Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe’s caucus are also expected to attend.
Saskatchewan’s Agriculture Minister David Marit, who will be at the conference, noted that recent discussions in Wisconsin indicated broad support among U.S. states for maintaining the Canada‑U.S‑Mexico trade agreement. “From an agriculture perspective, a lot of the states are on‑side,” Marit said. Also traveling from Saskatchewan are Rural Health Minister Lori Carr, Legislative Assembly Speaker Todd Goudy, and three Saskatchewan Party backbenchers.
Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario hold affiliate membership in the CSG Midwest, while Saskatchewan is a full member. The provincial governments have indicated that lawmakers from eleven U.S. states will be present at the conference, where Johnson will advocate for Alberta’s priorities in energy, trade and agriculture.
The report was originally published by The Canadian Press on August 28, 2026.
Article and image source: stalbertgazette.com
