The escalating US-Canada trade dispute has taken center stage in Quebec's provincial election campaign, with major parties offering competing visions on how to protect jobs and businesses from tariffs. The CAQ leader, Christine Fréchette, unveiled measures aimed at shielding Quebec's economy, including prioritizing Quebec-made goods and changing the public procurement process to favor Canadian firms over US companies. The Liberal Leader, Charles Milliard, criticized the CAQ plan as insufficient, while PQ Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon argued that his party is better equipped to defend Quebec's interests in the trade dispute. Business groups have largely backed Ottawa's decision to retaliate against US tariffs, but warn of growing economic uncertainty.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-09,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
The United States and Canada have been engaged in a trade war for several months. On Tuesday, Canadian retaliatory tariffs came into effect**, targeting U.S. goods worth $27.6 billion, with duties ranging from 15 to 50%. The move was in response to the Trump administration's imposition of tariffs on Canadian goods worth nearly $28 billion under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930.
In response, the U.S. President Donald Trump banned the import of various Canadian products, including alcohol, motorcycles, and dairy products, starting from September 29. The ban also includes 50% tariffs on a series of other products, such as paper and wood products, aluminum products, furniture, and mattresses.
The trade war has led to a decline in tourism between the two countries, with Canadians choosing to avoid traveling to the U.S. due to the tensions. As one marketing executive based in Vancouver said, "It's such a big ask right now... It's just a wasted effort."
Canada's Prime Minister Mark Carney has defended the country's decision to retaliate against the Trump administration's tariffs, saying that Ottawa will not back down and warning of tough times ahead for Canadians. A recent poll found that 80% of respondents support or somewhat support dollar-for-dollar countertariffs.
The trade war between the U.S. and Canada is an escalation of tensions that began last month when trade talks collapsed. The dispute has led to economic pain on both sides, with Canadian businesses affected by the tariffs and American tourism organizations trying to woo Canadians back to visit the United States.
Written for “US Canada Trade War Escalation” on 2026-09-09,
grounded in this article and the 55 other(s) covering the same event.
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The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.35, but none of the 3 quote(s) it offered could be found in the article text, so the score is not published.
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Leaning score withheld for article 7310: no verified evidence · logged 2026-09-09
The escalating trade dispute between Canada and the United States is increasingly shaping Quebec’s provincial election campaign, with the major parties offering competing visions for how to protect jobs and businesses from the impact of tariffs.
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parties → escalate → tariffs
The issue moved to the forefront Tuesday after federal counter-tariffs against the United States prompted reactions from party leaders across the province.
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tariffs → move → province
Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) Leader Christine Fréchette unveiled a series of measures aimed at shielding Quebec’s economy from potential fallout, saying the province must stand firm in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies.
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province → unveil → policies
“We are heading for hard times and Quebec will not back down in the face of Trump,” Fréchette said.
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Fréchette → head → Trump
Among the proposals, Fréchette called on municipalities, organizations and consumers to prioritize Quebec-made goods.
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Fréchette → call → goods
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“I urge municipalities, organisms as well as citizens, consumers, to buy more Quebec products,” she said.
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she → get → products
Fréchette also proposed changes to Quebec’s public procurement process that would bar U.S. companies from bidding on certain provincial contracts, creating more opportunities for Quebec and Canadian firms.
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that → propose → firms
However, Liberal Leader Charles Milliard argued the CAQ’s plan does not go far enough.
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plan → argue → ?
“Most of the ideas that she announced this morning were actually ideas that I proposed last week except that they’re less ambitious,” Milliard said.
Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, whose party continues to lead in recent polling, also criticized the government’s approach.
St-Pierre Plamondon said the PQ is better positioned to defend Quebec’s interests as the trade dispute intensifies.
“Who has the best team and the best intellectual understanding of what’s going on to defend Quebec interests with regards to the tariffs,” he said, pointing to his party’s economic expertise.
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he → announce → expertise
The PQ leader also raised concerns about Ottawa’s handling of the dispute, arguing Quebec businesses were not adequately consulted before the federal government imposed counter-tariffs.
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government → raise → tariffs
“If Quebec’s interests are sacrificed and are not taken into consideration in the measures that they put forward, that’s a problem for us.
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that → sacrifice → us
And that’s a problem for our economy,” he said.
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he → ’ → economy
Business groups have largely backed Ottawa’s decision to retaliate against U.S. tariffs, while warning that the uncertainty is creating challenges for companies.
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uncertainty → back → companies
Véronique Proulx, president of the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec, said the federal government has taken appropriate steps to defend Canadian interests, but businesses affected by the dispute may need additional support.
uncertain
businesses → say → support
The trade dispute is expected to remain a major campaign issue as party leaders prepare for a series of election debates in the coming days and weeks, giving voters a clearer look at how each party plans to respond to growing economic tensions with the United States.
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party → expect → States
