Alberta business leaders cautiously optimistic about Trump’s return, tariffs promises [Video]

Donald Trump’s return to the White House on Wednesday continues to spur speculation into how policies affecting the energy industry will shift under his leadership.

But Alberta business leaders are feeling cautiously optimistic.

“If there is a place in Canada to perhaps come out better in these kinds of reviews, it’s perhaps Alberta,” said Adam Legge, Business Council of Alberta president.

That’s because Canada’s largest export to the U.S. is energy.

In fact, ATB reports Alberta energy represented more than 80 per cent of U.S.-bound exports last year.

Trump has promised a blanket 10 to 20 per cent tariff on all imports, but experts say that would ultimately cost consumers on both sides of the border, leading many industry experts to believe Canadian oil and gas will be exempt.

“You’re having smaller, more narrow refinery margins, and you have higher pump prices for Americans. That higher pump factor is why myself and others think it won’t happen because …