here are the quebec products that could be hit by trump's tariff threat
americans are by far the biggest buyers of quebec goods, representing 74 per cent of exports.
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u.s. president-elect donald trump’s plan to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all canadian goods would significantly damage quebec’s economy.
the united states is by far quebec’s biggest export market and such a tariff could lead to thousands of job losses, premier françois legault says.
in 2023 the province exported $87.3 billion worth of products to its southern neighbour, says the institut de la statistique du québec (isq).
that represents 74 per cent of quebec’s $118.6 billion in exports.
china is far behind in second place, with $4.2 billion in sales (3.5 per cent).
electricity is a major export. hydro-québec generated $1.8 billion in revenue in the u.s. in 2023, the utility’s annual report said.
the aerospace, metals and wood products sectors could also be hit hard.
these are the top 10 products quebec exported to the u.s. in the second quarter of 2024, according to the isq:
- aluminum and aluminum alloys: $2.3 billion
- aircraft: $1.7 billion
- aircraft engines: $770 million
- non-ferrous metals and alloys: $647 million
- paper (excluding newsprint): $477 million
- aircraft parts and other aerospace equipment: $474 million
- non-electric light trucks, vans and suvs: $434 million
- copper and copper alloys in raw form: $429 million
- softwood lumber: $419 million
- pharmaceutical and medicinal products: $334 million
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“if these tariffs come to fruition, a real shock wave will hit our economy,” manufacturiers & exportateurs du québec, a trade association, said tuesday.
“although this may be a negotiation tactic on the american side, if donald trump really goes ahead, a prompt and rapid response from governments will be needed to financially support our manufacturers. the economic vitality and jobs in our regions are at stake.”
the canadian federation of independent business said: “any disruption to the flow of goods between the u.s. and canada will have a major economic impact on our exporters and their employees.”
it called on governments to take “all necessary steps to ensure canada remains an attractive and reliable trading partner for the u.s. and the rest of the world. that includes stabilizing our supply chains and reducing the regulatory and tax burden on canadian small- and medium-sized businesses.”
the u.s. is also quebec’s biggest source of imports.
the province imported $42.8 billion worth of goods from the u.s. in 2023. that’s just over one-third of the total imported by the province.
among the biggest imports are cars and trucks, petroleum products and aerospace parts and equipment.
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given that trade imbalance, “we cannot start a (tariff) war” with the u.s., legault told reporters on tuesday.
“we have to do everything we can to not have these tariffs.”
prime minister justin trudeau and provincial premiers, including legault, are to meet wednesday to discuss the issue.
quebec has started analyzing which of the province’s products are most vulnerable.
“we’re going industry by industry — where does he need us? where can he replace us?” legault said. “with electricity (and) aluminum, i think the united states needs us.”
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