Expert says tariffs on Canadian oil would increase costs in U.S. [Video]

Executive Fellow at the University of Calgary’s School of Public Policy, Richard Masson, discusses the possible impacts of U.S. tariffs on Alberta and Canada with Alberta Primetime host Michael Higgins.

This interview has been edited for clarity and length.

Michael Higgins: Let’s start with that 25-per cent tariff threat which is much higher than the 10-per cent Donald Trump warned about on the campaign trail.

He says it will be in place until borders are tightened against illegal drugs and migrants.

What kind of volatility would that bring to the export of Canadian oil and gas?

Richard Masson: It would be a big problem because we don’t have any certainty on how it would be applied, and of course, oil and gas energy in general are the biggest export Canada has to the U.S.

I’m not that worried that it’s going to be across the board applied to oil, because the Americans are so dependent upon us. We’ve had an integrated North American …