Federal Energy Minister says Canada must win trade war

Published 9:52 am Thursday, September 10, 2026

Canada’s Energy and Natural Resources minister addressed the escalating trade war with the U.S. with fighting words on Sept. 9.

Tim Hodgson was in central Alberta to celebrate the start of construction on what is billed as the nation’s largest carbon capture and storage project near Clive.

“Canadians know that we are living through a moment of profound economic change. As our prime minister has said, we are in a rupture. We are in a trade war, a trade war that we did not ask for, that we must win,” said Hodgson.

“Canada didn’t ask for a world where energy security equals economic security equals national security. But that’s the world we’re in today.”

The federal government is working with the provinces and territories and taking action, he said.

The minister pointed to the official announcement on Sept. 8 that the temporary suspension of the federal fuel excise tax will be extended until Jan. 31, 2027 and applied at only half the regular rate from Feb. 1 to March 31, 2027 as examples of the measures the government is taking to help workers, businesses and communities “facing ongoing trade disruptions from the United States.

“We may not be able to control decisions made in Washington, but we can control how we respond. We can build Canada strong for all because that’s what Canadians do.

“We don’t give up. We look out for one another and we get through challenges together.”

U.S. Trade Ambassador Jamieson Greer scoffed at Prime Minister Mark Carney’s characterization of the ongoing tariff salvos as a trade war, calling it “unhinged” in a recent interview with the Financial Times.

On Wednesday, Greer addressed the issue again on his official website.

“For us, we’re just putting additional fees on foreign goods made by foreign workers in foreign countries. That’s all a tariff is. It’s just business for us, and Canada’s the only country that’s really decided that they want to (retaliate).”

Recently, the U.S. imposed a round of 50 per cent tariffs. Canada’s retaliatory tariffs took effect on Tuesday. The U.S. did not wait long to respond, announcing a plan to ban imports of Canadian alcohol, motorcycles and a handful of food products starting on Sept. 29. Some dairy, paper, wood and aluminum products, furniture and mattresses will be hit with 50 per cent levies.

Hodgson said Canada will answer U.S. trade restrictions by “building our way forward. We’re going to build our way to net-zero by 2050.” Net-zero is the national goal of balancing greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere with an equivalent amount removed by using new technologies and renewable energy.

Energy security has become a strategic priority for nations worldwide, and they are seeking reliable partners that can provide the energy, resources and technologies they need built in responsible ways, he said.

“Canada can and will be that partner.”