Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew says he's happy to play a role as part of a unified Team Canada approach in order to strengthen the relationship with a new American administration, but his focus is on leading Manitoba.

Prairie premiers are urging Canada to act on American concerns over illegal cross-border traffic of people and drugs to stave off the looming threat o.

The damage to Manitoba from a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods entering the United States cannot be overstated, Premier Wab Kinew says.