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

<img src="https://www.mtlblog.com/media-library/quebec-premier-francois-legault-addresses-the-media.jpg?id=33039364&width=1200&height=800&coordinates=127%2C0%2C128%2C0"/><br/><br/><p><a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/francois-legault" target="_blank">Quebec Premier François Legault</a> is gearing up for a counterattack against the <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/tag/tariffs" target="_blank">25% tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump</a> on goods from Canada and Mexico to the U.S. While <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/canada-trump-trudeau-tariffs" target="_blank">originally set for February</a>, the new tariffs officially took effect at midnight on March 4, 2025.</p><p>In a Monday interview with <a href="https://ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/2145131/francois-legault-reactions-tarifs-patrice-roy" target="_blank">Radio-Canada host Patrice Roy</a>, 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.</p><p><span></span>"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."</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGwaSyhMi-W/?hl=en" data-instgrm-version="4" style="background:#FFF; border:0; border-radius:3px; box-shadow:0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width:658px; padding:0; width:99.375%; width:-webkit-calc(100% - 2px); width:calc(100% - 2px);"> <div style="padding:8px;"> <div style="background:#F8F8F8; line-height:0; margin-top:40px; padding:50% 0; text-align:center; width:100%;"> <div style="background:url(data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAACwAAAAsCAMAAAApWqozAAAAGFBMVEUiIiI9PT0eHh4gIB4hIBkcHBwcHBwcHBydr+JQAAAACHRSTlMABA4YHyQsM5jtaMwAAADfSURBVDjL7ZVBEgMhCAQBAf//42xcNbpAqakcM0ftUmFAAIBE81IqBJdS3lS6zs3bIpB9WED3YYXFPmHRfT8sgyrCP1x8uEUxLMzNWElFOYCV6mHWWwMzdPEKHlhLw7NWJqkHc4uIZphavDzA2JPzUDsBZziNae2S6owH8xPmX8G7zzgKEOPUoYHvGz1TBCxMkd3kwNVbU0gKHkx+iZILf77IofhrY1nYFnB/lQPb79drWOyJVa/DAvg9B/rLB4cC+Nqgdz/TvBbBnr6GBReqn/nRmDgaQEej7WhonozjF+Y2I/fZou/qAAAAAElFTkSuQmCC); display:block; height:44px; margin:0 auto -44px; position:relative; top:-22px; width:44px;"> </div> </div> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DGwaSyhMi-W/?hl=en" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">See on Instagram</a> </p> </div> </blockquote><script async="" defer="" src="//platform.instagram.com/en_US/embeds.js"></script> <p>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 <a href="https://www.journaldequebec.com/2025/03/03/tarifs-de-25-sur-les-produits-canadiens--legault-promet-de-laide-et-une-riposte-rapide" target="_blank">LCN interview</a> , the head of government said that "If Mr. Trump does this for four years, we will have to completely review the economy of Quebec."</p><p>Despite the concerns, though, Legault suggested that Quebec may have some leverage and that Trump won't follow through with his "25%" figure. </p><p>"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.</p><p>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."</p><p>"I agree with Doug Ford," he said. "Donald Trump must be made to pay the price for decisions that do not make sense."</p><p>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.</p><em>Love this? Check out our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/notices/" target="_blank">MTL Blog noticeboard</a> for details on jobs, benefits, travel info and more!</em> <p><br/></p><em>AI tools may have been used to support the creation or distribution of this content; however, it has been carefully edited and fact-checked by a member of MTL Blog's Editorial team. For more information on our use of AI, please visit our <a href="https://www.mtlblog.com/editorial-standards" target="_blank">Editorial Standards page</a>.</em><p><br/></p>