Quebec's premier says Canada-U.S. trade talks are 'far from over'

Quebec's premier, Christine Fréchette, has declared that trade negotiations between Canada and the United States are "far from over." She is withholding a final decision on the emerging agreement, emphasizing the need for more information from Prime Minister Mark Carney to ensure Quebec's key dairy and forestry sectors are adequately protected.

Fréchette also pushed back against immediate calls to restore U.S. alcohol sales in Quebec's provincial stores. She asserted that Quebec alone will determine if American products will return to the shelves of the SAQ, the provincial corporation that manages most wine and spirits sales. "Information is missing before I can make the right decisions to ensure Quebecers are protected. I am awaiting clarifications from Mr. Carney," she stated in a social media post.

Canada and the U.S. are nearing a trade agreement that would avert threatened 50% U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports, which have been postponed until Saturday. While U.S. President Trump described the deal as "very fair," Fréchette's Coalition Avenir Québec faces a provincial election in October, adding political pressure to her deliberations on concessions affecting dairy, forestry, and alcohol sales.

Prime Minister Carney reportedly asked provincial premiers to reinstate U.S. alcohol sales as part of the trade discussions, a move aimed at addressing a significant U.S. trade complaint. However, Carney cannot compel provinces to resume these sales. Other premiers, like Nova Scotia's Tim Houston, expressed support for the talks' direction but noted that consumer willingness to buy U.S. alcohol again is a separate issue. Many Canadian provinces have restricted or banned U.S. alcohol sales in retaliation for previous U.S. tariffs and rhetoric concerning Canada's sovereignty.

“

Information is missing before I can make the right decisions to ensure Quebecers are protected. I am awaiting clarifications from Mr. Carney.