Quebec Premier Dominique Fréchette announced on Monday night that he will temporarily suspend his campaign activities to convene an emergency cabinet meeting. The decision comes as the federal government prepares a series of retaliatory tariffs targeting a broad range of American products.
Fréchette, who also leads the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ), said the meeting will focus on coordinating Quebec’s response to the upcoming federal measures. Canada plans to levy tariffs of up to 15 percent on many U.S. imports, with some categories such as certain dairy and beauty items set to face duties as high as 50 percent. The tariffs will apply to goods including dairy, steel, copper and selected cosmetics.
The move follows recent trade actions taken by the United States that Quebec officials describe as harmful to Canadian exporters. By pausing his campaign, Fréchette signaled the political weight of the dispute and the need for provincial input before the federal cabinet finalizes its strategy. The emergency session is expected to address how Quebec businesses will be affected and what provincial support mechanisms may be required.
Canada’s retaliatory tariff plan is part of an escalating trade disagreement that began earlier this year with U.S. restrictions on Canadian agricultural and manufactured goods. The upcoming measures aim to pressure Washington to reverse its policies by targeting sectors that are significant to both economies. While the federal government has not yet released the full list of affected products, officials have confirmed that the tariffs will cover a wide spectrum of American exports.
The cabinet meeting scheduled for Monday night will be the first of its kind since the trade tensions intensified. Observers note that the coordination between provincial and federal authorities will be crucial in managing the economic impact on Quebec’s industries, which rely heavily on cross‑border trade.
The outcome of the meeting could shape Quebec’s stance in the broader national response and influence negotiations with the United States in the weeks ahead.