Fréchette Warns of Escalating US Tariffs Ahead of Quebec Election

Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette warned that Canadian counter-tariffs set to take effect at midnight could provoke another response from the Trump administration. She expressed concerns that U.S. tariffs may escalate further, affecting Quebec businesses and workers.

The trade war is a contentious issue in the province's election campaign, with party leaders clashing over how to protect Quebec from economic fallout. Liberal Leader Charles Milliard argued that the trade dispute should be used as a springboard to reshape Quebec's economy, while accusing Premier Fréchette of failing to prepare businesses for the trade war.

The Coalition Avenir Québec leader intended to temporarily step away from the campaign on Monday evening to chair a virtual cabinet meeting and make decisions related to the new federal tariff measures. She said she remains premier during the campaign and has a responsibility to act when important issues arise, adding that Ottawa took Quebec's requests into consideration when adjusting its response.

Quebec had raised concerns that some of Ottawa's retaliatory measures could hurt local businesses. The province previously obtained federal tariff relief for affected businesses and got new counter-tariffs on some U.S. products that Quebec companies can supply to the rest of Canada, including copper wire and dairy products.