Quebec premier Legault writes to Americans on tariffs ahead of federal-provincial meeting

Quebec Premier Francois Legault speaks to members of his cabinet to discuss preparations for the incoming Trump administration, in Quebec City, Tuesday, Nov.19, 2024. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jacques Boissinot

As Canadian provincial and territorial premiers prepare to meet Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to discuss tariff threats from the incoming Trump administration, Quebec Premier François Legault has written directly to the Americans to warn them of the risks of such a policy.

In an open letter published in the American media outlet The Hill, Legault warns that the tariffs threatened by the president-elect could backfire on the Americans.

Donald Trump has promised to impose tariffs of 25 per cent on all Canadian and Mexican imports into the United States. This is one of several measures he plans to implement on the first day of his presidency by means of an executive order.

He will be sworn in next Monday.

Legault pointed out that Quebec exports aluminium to the United States, as well as supplies for the American military aircraft - products that the country will not be able to produce itself in the short and medium term, he said.

So, with tariffs, the Americans will end up paying more for these products, according to Legault.

He added that, according to government calculations, tariffs imposed on Canada and Mexico would reduce the United States' gross domestic product (GDP) by 1 per cent.

“Canada will not become the 51st state in the union, but our economies are so intertwined that in terms of trade, we already have a customs union,” he argued. “Instead of opposing each other, let’s continue to build a great North American economic power: it’s in our mutual interest.”

Legault published the letter while in Ottawa to take part in a meeting between his counterparts from the provinces and territories, and Trudeau.

“A solid, very solid plan”

Federal Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc met on Tuesday with Ontario Premier Doug Ford, who currently chairs the Council of the Federation, to discuss Canada’s response to Trump’s threat.

“I’ve seen the plan for border security. It is phenomenal. As I said to Minister LeBlanc, ask Public Safety Minister David McGuinty to go over there and start promoting it, because it’s a solid, solid plan,” Ford said.

The day before, Ford criticized the Trudeau government for not sharing details of its plan to strengthen border security.

For his part, LeBlanc pointed out that the Department of Finance and the major Canadian banks are working on modelling the potential job losses that would occur if Trump carried out his threat. However, the minister refused to share this information on Tuesday.

“We are not going to speculate on the different scenarios. Next week, we expect to know the precise details of what these tariffs will mean for the Canadian economy and, of course, we will be ready to react from a position of strength,” said LeBlanc.

In Ontario, Ford estimated that the tariffs could cause the loss of 500,000 jobs in his province.

Border, then trade deficit

Trump’s rhetoric on the subject of tariffs has changed in recent days.

While he initially focused on the lack of border surveillance, he is now emphasising the US trade deficit with Canada, which is tantamount to saying that the United States is “subsidizing” its northern neighbour, in his view.

Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly maintained last week that the possibility of imposing retaliatory tariffs to those that will be put in place by Trump will be on the agenda of the meeting with the premiers of the provinces and territories.

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith met the President-elect at his Mar-a-Lago resort last weekend. She was invited to attend by Canadian businessman and television personality Kevin O’Leary.

Smith urged Canada not to block oil and gas exports to the US as part of its response to the tariffs, warning that doing so could trigger a “crisis of national unity.”

Asked on Tuesday about the possibility of blocking energy exports, Ford and LeBlanc said they wanted to keep all options on the table.

-- This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on Jan. 15, 2025.