Canada PM Rejects US Trade Proposal Over French Language Protections

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said on August 24 that Canada “cannot accept” a US trade deal proposal if it weakens French-language protections, following the collapse of negotiations between the two countries last week. Speaking during a visit to a shipyard with Quebec’s premier, Carney emphasized that while US negotiators view French as an “obstacle” in trade, in Quebec, “these are rights.”

Carney’s decision to walk away from the negotiating table has drawn widespread support from Canadian politicians and analysts, who argue the country has fully entered an economic war with its longtime ally. Tariffs on about 5% of Canadian exports to the US took effect over the weekend, and Canada has announced it will retaliate in early September.

Quebec, Canada’s predominantly French-speaking province, has long sought to protect its distinct identity, sometimes straining relations with the federal government and the charter of rights and freedoms. In recent years, these regulations have also irked US negotiators, who view them as trade barriers. Bill 96 requires products sold in Quebec to have French descriptions and mandates that brands using common terms be translated into French, while Bill 109 forces streaming services like Netflix, Spotify, and Apple to promote and prioritize French-language content for Quebec users.

Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette praised Carney’s decision to withdraw from negotiations that she said had crossed a “red line” for francophones. “Our culture, our language are central to our identity, and it’s important to take that off the negotiating table,” she told reporters. “That is important to us and will not change, even if we are threatened with various tariffs.”

A poll earlier this month showed opposition to Trump is highest in Quebec. The province’s separatist politicians have seen support plummet amid US-imposed economic damage. Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, a sovereignty politician likely to win the upcoming provincial election, said his party would postpone a referendum on leaving Canada until Trump leaves office.

The Quebec Chamber of Commerce (FCCQ) called the tariffs the “worst-case scenario” for businesses in the province. “Quebec is truly the hardest hit by these tariffs from the start of the trade war,” Fréchette said. “In all our regions, businesses risk losing contracts. In fact, it has already begun.”

The same day, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer called reports that French-language protections were being negotiated a “funny false story.” He said both he and his children speak French, adding that the real issue is that the US dislikes Canada “forcing” streaming giants to share profits to support Canadian content. However, Canada had previously abandoned this stance.

Carney rejected that interpretation, telling reporters the issue is not “funny” and that there is a “very large gap” in perspectives.

Also on August 24, Trump continued to escalate the economic war against the longtime ally. On social media, he wrote: “Canada has taken advantage of the United States for years,” while criticizing Canada’s “exorbitant” tariffs on American farmers. The US president pledged to increase tariffs on cars, trucks, auto parts, and steel from January 1, writing, “We don’t need Canada, they need us!”

Ontario Premier Doug Ford reacted sharply, calling Trump a “bully” and vowing a strong response. “We need to throw everything at him. He’s arrogant, complacent, and as Ronald Reagan once said, if you get along with a bully, what’s to stop that bully from coming back and hitting you the next day. And Donald Trump is just a bully,” Ford told local media.