How Trump’s Policies Influence the Lives of Quebecers

mpact of Trump’s Policies on Quebec’s Economy

Donald Trump’s policies affect Quebec primarily through economic and international trade channels.

Threats of Tariffs and Protectionism This is the main concern. Threats or the imposition of new tariffs (which can reach 25% or more on Canadian goods) target key Quebec sectors such as aluminum, softwood lumber, and potentially agricultural products (supply management).

Direct Consequences: These tariffs increase costs for Quebec companies that export to the U.S. (about three-quarters of Quebec’s exports go to the United States). This can lead to reduced production, job losses in export-oriented companies, and higher prices for Quebec consumers (for imported goods or products using taxed inputs).

Uncertainty: The unpredictability of these policies creates economic uncertainty, which can slow investment and impact the value of the Canadian dollar.

Broader Trade Repercussions: The “America First” policy promotes U.S. economic nationalism, forcing Quebec companies to rethink their export strategies and seek new markets to diversify their trade opportunities.

Tourism: Political tension and uncertainty can impact cross-border relations, including tourism. Drops in Quebecers traveling to the U.S. have been observed at times, sometimes as a reaction to unpopular policies.

Diplomatic Relations and Negotiations

Relations between Ottawa/Quebec and Washington become strained and require intensive trade diplomacy. Quebec and Canada must continuously negotiate to protect their interests within agreements like CUSMA (the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement).

Other Areas Affected

Although the economy is the focal point, other domains can also feel the impact:

• Monetary policy: U.S. policies can influence Canada’s monetary strategy.

• Immigration: American rhetoric and migration policies may indirectly affect the Canada–U.S. border and migration flows toward Quebec.

Conclusion

Overall, Trump’s policies influence the daily lives of Quebecers mainly through the economic uncertainty they generate and the risk of high tariffs that can affect employment and the cost of living.