Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette issued a warning about upcoming challenges and urged Quebec residents and municipalities to shift their focus from American businesses to supporting the local economy during a press conference on Tuesday morning.
Fréchette emphasized Quebec’s commitment to resisting pressure from U.S. President Trump, labeling him as a bully. She pledged to utilize all available tools to increase purchases of Quebec-made products, aiming to safeguard jobs, the economy, and workers.
Amid Canada’s counter-tariffs on various American goods, Fréchette, who is currently engaged in a provincial election, unveiled new initiatives on Monday evening to assist the province in dealing with the situation. These measures, which came into effect after midnight, grant advantages to Quebec-based companies in public tenders and aid them in exploring new markets within Canada.
Highlighting that these measures impact $1.5 billion in contracts over the next four months, Fréchette noted that American businesses typically make up less than 10% of bidders for public contracts. Addressing concerns about potential retaliation from President Trump, she expressed readiness to press forward despite any further actions, emphasizing the need to fortify the economy and foster unity.
In a separate development, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer indicated that the U.S. might impose retaliatory tariffs on Canadian goods imminently.
Fréchette projected that Canada’s counter-tariffs would affect 8.8% of the country’s imports, including 5% of Quebec’s imports. She acknowledged that the impact on Quebec’s job market remained uncertain but noted that 18,000 layoffs occurred in the province in August, likely influenced by the ongoing tariff disputes.
Additionally, the premier assured that federal rebates would offset the burden of counter-tariffs on Canadian businesses, urging the government to streamline the reimbursement processes for efficiency. She clarified that no premiers’ meeting was scheduled in the immediate future.
Fréchette briefly diverted from her campaign activities on Monday to convene with her cabinet and strategize Quebec’s response to the counter-tariffs. Refuting accusations of exploiting the tariff situation for political gain, she emphasized the need to confront the reality and adapt strategies accordingly.