Legault says more than 150,000 Quebecers could lose jobs due to Trump's tariffs

Quebec Premier François Legault is gearing up for a counterattack against the 25% tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on goods from Canada and Mexico to the U.S. While originally set for February, the new tariffs officially took effect at midnight on March 4, 2025.

In a Monday interview with Radio-Canada host Patrice Roy, the premier warned that these tariffs could have a serious impact on Quebec's job market, estimating that up to 160,000 jobs could be lost over the next six months — 60,000 more than initially expected when the trade crisis began.

"At the moment, I'm very motivated to fight against Mr. Trump," Legault said in a clip from the interview that was later shared to his Instagram page. "I feel a certain obligation to use the tools I know best, like la Caisse de Depot, like Investissement Quebec, Hydro-Quebec, to protect Quebecers."

Given the ongoing shakeup, the premier predicts that Quebec's economy "will be completely different from what it is today" in one to two years. Earlier, in an LCN interview , the head of government said that "If Mr. Trump does this for four years, we will have to completely review the economy of Quebec."

Despite the concerns, though, Legault suggested that Quebec may have some leverage and that Trump won't follow through with his "25%" figure.

"I don't think it's going to be 25%, because we have products he can't do without," he told Roy, pointing to examples like wood, electricity and aluminum.

When asked whether Quebec would follow Ontario’s lead in cutting electricity exports to the United States, Legault emphasized that "nothing should be ruled out."

"I agree with Doug Ford," he said. "Donald Trump must be made to pay the price for decisions that do not make sense."

Back in February, Canada's provincial and federal governments prepared a major response to Trump's threats: counter-tariffs on $30 billion worth of products from the United States on day 1 of the American surtax coming into effect. If the Trump administration holds its ground and does not change its tune, a second wave of tariffs will be imposed, this time on the equivalent of $125 billion worth of U.S. goods.

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