Legault’s message to political actors in Washington

“The president-elect’s concern to reduce his trade balance with the rest of the world is entirely legitimate, but by attacking Canada, he is targeting the wrong target. Canada’s trade surplus with the United States is due to imports of cheap, reliable energy that fuel the American economy. Without these imports of Canadian oil, gas and electricity, the United States has a $58 billion trade surplus with Canada. »

In a column published this Wednesday morning on the American news site The HillFrançois Legault uses reason to convince his audience, composed mainly of political actors in Washington, of a fact that seems obvious to him: the customs duties envisaged by Donald Trump are a bad idea. A bad idea that will not only harm the Canadian economy but also that of the United States.

That said, the Quebec Prime Minister says he shares the desire of the former and future president of the United States “to increase border security and control immigration”, just as he says he supports his request to see Canada do its share in terms of military spending.

“However, Trump should give Canada time to meet his expectations on these two issues before imposing tariffs that would do great harm to both our countries. Since the free trade agreement signed by President Ronald Reagan, the economies of Quebec (to speak of what I know best) and the United States have been so integrated that customs tariffs on our products would inflict serious self-harm on the American economy,” he writes.

The head of the CAQ government notes that “our analysis” establishes at least 1% the drop in American GDP over one year after the imposition of customs duties of 25% on exports from Canada and Mexico, “not to mention the ‘inflation “.

“For example, Quebec supplies 64% of the raw aluminum used by American companies. The United States does not have the capacity to produce aluminum to replace this crucial input and will not have it in the medium term. A 25% tariff would therefore only increase the price of beer cans, car parts, airplane parts and a host of other products for American consumers and businesses. “, writes the PM of Quebec again.

François Legault provides other examples of the advantages that Quebec products represent for the American economy. Political actors in Washington may take note. But will the message reach Trump?

(Photo CP)