Trump's new 35% tariffs are damaging for Quebec workers and companies, Legault says
QUEBEC — U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to go ahead with 35-per-cent tariffs on Canadian exports will hurt Quebec workers and companies, Premier François Legault said Friday.
Reacting to Trump's decision to sign an executive order to increase tariffs on Canadian goods from 25 per cent to 35 per cent, Legault said Canada and Quebec have no choice but to diversify their economies and increase economic autonomy.
'The tariffs imposed by the Trump administration, which go from 25 per cent to 35 per cent, excluding products covered by our free trade agreement, are damaging to our workers and companies,' Legault said in an early morning posting on social media.
'These tariffs are also harmful to American citizens who need our products and our resources.'
Les tarifs imposés par l'administration Trump, qui passent de 25 à 35 %, excluant les produits couverts par notre entente de libre-échange, sont dommageables pour nos travailleurs et nos entreprises. Ces tarifs nuisent aussi aux citoyens américains qui ont besoin de nos produits…
— François Legault (@francoislegault) August 1, 2025
Unlike Mexico, which got an extension in trade talks, Canada got no such break with tariffs on certain export goods increasing Friday.
In Ottawa, Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a statement on the Trump decision after midnight Thursday.
'While the Canadian government is disappointed by this action, we remain committed to CUSMA (the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement), which is the world's second-largest free trade agreement by trading volume,' the statement said.
'The U.S. application of CUSMA means that the U.S. average tariff rate on Canadian goods remains one of its lowest for all of its trading partners. Other sectors of our economy — including lumber, steel, aluminum and automobiles — are however heavily impacted by U.S. duties and tariffs.'
My statement on Canada-U.S. trade: pic.twitter.com/0PSG9kKtiO
— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) August 1, 2025
Carney said the government will act to protect Canadian jobs and invest in industrial competitiveness, buy Canadian and diversify our export markets.
'Canadians will be our own best customers, creating more well-paying careers at home as we strengthen and diversify our trading partners throughout the world.'
Legault takes a similar line, vowing to protect Quebec's interests.
'Recent developments underline the importance of devoting efforts to diversify our markets and increase economic autonomy,' Legault writes. 'We are going to support our workers and our companies.
'We are working with the federal government and other provinces for the rest of things. We have to continue our discussions with the American administration. In any case, we are going defend the interests of Quebecers. '
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