Quebec’s premier said both Republicans and Democrats have adopted protectionist trade policies that could ultimately hurt the province’s interests.
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QUEBEC — Premier François Legault says he is very concerned about the outcome of the U.S. election and the possible impact on Canada-Quebec trade.
Legault insists he won’t take sides with either Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump or Democrat Kamala Harris, as both parties have adopted protectionist trade policies that ultimately He said it could harm Quebec’s interests.
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He announced he will travel to Washington in 2025 to ensure Quebec’s voice is heard by Quebec’s governor, mayors and presidents of companies doing business with Quebec.
“This is concerning for the entire Canadian economy,” Legault told reporters as he arrived in parliament on Tuesday. “It’s fundamental for Canada and for Quebec. We export 70 per cent of our products to the United States.
“Canada is the only country with a trade surplus, so this could cause significant damage to the Canadian economy as a whole.”
Legault listed a list of products that could be affected by new U.S. trade tariffs and barriers, including forestry, aluminum and batteries, which Quebec will It is making large investments through projects such as the Northvolt project.
The Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade agreement is also scheduled to be renewed in 2026, Legault said.
“So it’s scary for the entire Canadian economy,” Legault said. “I’m planning to go to Washington in early 2025. I’ll have to explain to them the importance of the relationship between companies in Canada, Quebec and the United States.”
Legault insisted he was not taking sides in the Nov. 5 election.
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“There’s a lot of protectionism in both candidates,” he said. “I don’t want Americans to interfere in our elections. So I won’t interfere in American elections.”
In 2023, the United States became Quebec’s largest export destination, totaling $87.2 billion.
On another topic, Legault was enthusiastic about new reports that the federal government is pushing for high-speed rail service between Quebec City and Toronto.
“I’m very excited,” Legault said. “This is great news for the people of Quebec, Trois-Rivières and Montreal. They will now be able to quickly travel between Quebec and Toronto.”
Asked if Quebec was willing to invest money in such an expensive project, Legault made the clarification.
“For now, it’s the federal government that has to put in the money,” he said.
Radio-Canada reported Monday that the Trudeau government will announce the plan. In the coming weeks.
Project proponents say Canada’s first such train will allow passengers to travel between Montreal and Toronto in three hours.
The high-speed trains will run at 300 kilometers per hour, twice the speed of current Via Rail trains.
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https://montrealgazette.com/news/politics/legault-not-picking-sides-but-hes-wary-of-american-protectionism-as-election-nears