Quebec premier pledges to fight tariffs, asks SAQ to stop selling U.S. products

Quebec Premier François Legault has vowed to fight for Quebecers who will be affected by U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs on Canadian imports.  

He estimates that over 100,000 jobs will be lost in the province.

"Today, Mr. Trump has decided to attack us. We have to stand up, we have to fight to protect our economy, to protect our jobs," he told reporters Saturday night.

The 25 per cent tariffs are slated to take effect on Tuesday. According to a fact sheet from the White House, they're expected to remain in place until Trump deems that Canada has taken sufficient action to curb the flow of illegal drugs and migrants across the Canada-U.S. border.

On Saturday night, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters that Canada will impose 25 per cent tariffs on $155 billion worth of American goods.

Tariffs will be applied to $30 billion worth of American goods starting Tuesday. Tariffs on the remaining $125 billion worth of goods will follow in 21 days.

Legault said he and other premiers unanimously support these retaliatory measures, adding that Canada's counter-tariffs would "benefit our companies by 25 per cent."

"We're going to protect ourselves and we're going to fight Mr. Trump," he said. 

On Sunday afternoon, the Quebec government announced that it asked the province's liquor board, the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ), to remove all American products from its shelves starting Tuesday.

It also instructed the SAQ to halt the supply of American alcoholic beverages to agencies, grocery stores, restaurants and bars. The changes may take a few days to be fully implemented, according to the government.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the SAQ, Linda Bouchard, said that the board is complying with the directive and already offers "numerous products from here and around the world that customers can turn to."

The SAQ's 2023-2024 report reveals that 6.8 per cent of still wines sold in Quebec that year came from the U.S.

"This measure is a reaction to the unjustified imposition of tariffs by the U.S. administration. Other measures will follow," wrote Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard in a statement.

"We will protect our economy, our businesses and our citizens."

Request for an emergency debate

Quebec's premier said he met with his ministers, whom he says are all working to minimize the impacts of tariffs. 

He is considering various solutions, including creating "as many jobs as possible" at Hydro-Québec and fast-tracking the construction of infrastructure in the health, education and public transit sectors, which would generate new construction positions. 

Legault views this situation as an "opportunity" for Quebec companies to replace imported American products and develop new products and markets. 

"We didn't want this trade war, but we're capable of defending ourselves. We're capable of overcoming this situation and coming out of it even stronger," he said.

In a letter sent on Saturday, Québec Solidaire's Guillaume Cliche-Rivard asked the president of the National Assembly to organize an emergency debate. 

"By holding an emergency debate, elected officials can not only demonstrate their commitment to defending Quebec's interests, but also offer solutions to mitigate the impact of these tariffs," the letter reads. 

"This is essential to maintain public confidence and ensure Quebec's economic stability. That's why this debate must be held urgently, with no further delay."

Legault said he's open to an emergency debate, in a post to Facebook. He added that he also asked Treasury Board president Sonia Lebel to come up with a plan to penalize American enterprises doing business with Quebec.

WATCH | What can Quebecers expect in a tariff war?:

How a tariff war with the U.S. might affect Quebecers — including at the checkout counter

14 days ago

Duration 3:04

Tariffs proposed by Donald Trump would clearly have a direct impact on Canadian exporters, but the effects would not end there, especially if a trade war ensues.

Business sector reacts with disappointment, worry

Julie White, CEO of Manufacturiers et Exportateurs du Québec, which aims to promote the growth of Quebec's manufacturing sector, said she's disappointed in Trump's decision. 

But, she said Trudeau and Legault's initial reactions and promises of retaliatory measures demonstrate their "commitment to supporting the sector."  

"It is vital that these measures do not have an unfair impact on Quebec manufacturers," wrote White in a statement.

"Let's also remember the importance of ensuring that all of the money raised by the imposition of tariffs on American products are 100% re-invested, and quickly, in the companies directly affected."

Véronique Proulx, head of the Quebec Federation of Chambers of Commerce, said the Canadian government's response was "necessary." 

"It will hurt our businesses and our economy, but it was difficult to do otherwise," she wrote in a statement to Radio-Canada. 

White hopes governments will eliminate interprovincial trade barriers, diversify export markets, and require foreign companies wishing to do business with the governments of Quebec and Canada to have a presence in Canada.

Michel Belval, president of the Quebec chapter of the American Chamber of Commerce in Canada, worries the 25 per cent tariffs will hurt both American and Canadian economies. He believes there are other ways for Trump to address his concerns than imposing those tariffs.

"It's going to be the American people paying for it and it's going to be the Canadian people paying for it," said Belval.

"The role of businesses on both sides of the border is to work together to say this is nonsense."