Alberta’s Smith says Tennessee trip isn’t sending wrong message during trade war

CALGARY – Alberta Premier Danielle Smith denied suggestions Tuesday that her upcoming trip to Tennessee could be sending the wrong message amid a trade war between Canada and its southern neighbour.

“I hope no one’s surprised to hear that I believe it’s my job to continue reaching out at all levels to various influencers in the United States and get our message across that we have an incredible partnership,” Smith told reporters at an unrelated news conference in Calgary. 

“It’s an incredible economic partnership, trade partnership, defence partnership, and we want it to continue.”

The premier is set to travel to Nashville later this week on a personal trip, and her office said she’ll be taking time out to meet with the head of the city’s chamber of commerce, state tourism commissioner Mark Ezell and the chief executive of a Nashville tourism marketing agency.

While Smith positioned the meetings as examples of her diplomacy efforts during the trade dispute, she also said a priority would be learning more about how Calgary can position itself as “Nashville north” and boost investment in the music industry.

“It is a personal trip, but being down there I thought I’d take advantage of some of the expertise that’s down there,” she said.

Smith said the Tennessee capital made changes 25 years ago to make itself a music industry haven and economic powerhouse and that she wants to find out how.

“I want to find out a little bit about what that is and see if we can develop some excellent partnerships with the music industry so that we can do a transfer of talent and transfer of expertise.”

Smith also said Alberta wants to expand its tourism economy and that it’s a good time to discuss leveraging Calgary’s assets.

Nathan Cooper, Alberta’s senior representative to the United States, is set to join the meetings.

Smith has said she wants to see Canadian officials double down on diplomacy efforts and get back to the negotiating table with the United States before Ottawa implements retaliatory tariffs next week.

Ottawa’s tariffs, set to take effect Sept. 8, are in response to 50 per cent tariffs that U.S. President Donald Trump ordered on $27.6 billion worth of Canadian goods starting Aug. 22.

Trade talks broke down in the final hours before the U.S. duties kicked in, with Prime Minister Mark Carney saying the United States was asking for too much and offering too little.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 1, 2026.

— By Jack Farrell in Edmonton