Quebec’s premier says Donald Trump is “choosing the wrong target” by threatening Canada with sweeping tariffs.
As François Legault books On Wednesday, per The Hill, an American political news site, the president-elect’s proposal to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian exports “could backfire.”
“Canada will not become the 51st nation in the union, but our economies are so intertwined that on trade, we already have a customs union,” Legault wrote in his opinion piece.
“This free trade in goods between our two countries…has greatly enriched our economies and our peoples. Instead of turning on each other, let us continue to build great economic power in North America: it is in our mutual interest.”
Trump’s tariff threat, which includes Mexico, stems from his demand that the allies tighten border security. Ottawa finally unveiled a detailed plan on Wednesday, but Trump did not back down.
In his column, Legault said Quebec shares Trump’s concerns about the border, as well as military spending, but added that implementing tariffs once he is sworn in as president on Jan. 20 would be a mistake.
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“Trump should give Canada time to meet his expectations on these two issues before imposing tariffs that would significantly harm our two countries,” he wrote.
“Since the free trade agreement signed by President Ronald Reagan, the economies of Quebec (to speak from what I know best) and the United States have become so integrated that tariffs on our products would severely damage the American economy.”
Legault went on to list how intertwined the two economies are, saying that Quebec supplies 64 percent of the raw aluminum used by American companies, is a major supplier of US military aviation supplies, as well as a large supply of critical minerals.
He added that a regional analysis showed that imposing a 25 percent tariff on exports from Canada and Mexico would reduce US GDP by at least 1 percent over one year and spark inflation.
Trudeau pledges ‘fair’ tariffs and won’t rule out energy cuts
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said on Wednesday that any response to the looming tariffs would need to be strong and shared by all regions of the country, but added that “nothing is off the table” — including cutting energy exports.
Trudeau was meeting with Canada’s prime ministers in person in Ottawa on Wednesday, and said the “excellent conversation” saw agreement that no region of the country should “disproportionately bear the burden” in responding to those potential tariffs – an apparent reference to energy production. . Provinces like Alberta.
However, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, who does not support blocking energy exports to the United States and has warned Ottawa against such a retaliatory move, has not signed on to the federal government’s plan.
Smith participated in the meeting virtually and was the only Prime Minister who did not participate in the closing press conference. She met Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida and is attending Trump’s inauguration on Monday.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who called Wednesday’s meeting as president of the Council of Federation and pushed for the inclusion of an energy ban as a possible response, said he respected Smith’s position but disagreed with her approach.
“I have a slightly different theory: protect your jurisdiction, but Canada comes first,” he said.
He added: “No one is exempt” from the effects that Trump’s tariffs will bring.
The Prime Minister also said he supports the “principle” of dollar-dollar tariffs on US imports, but the focus is on ensuring any tariffs placed by Trump are removed as soon as possible.
The value of retaliatory tariffs imposed by Canada on American goods during Trump’s first term, when he imposed tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum, amounted to $16.6 billion. The tariffs threatened by Trump this time are expected to be much broader.
– With files from Saba Aziz and Sean Boynton
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