US might impose trade sanctions on Canada over new Quebec language law
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CBS News reports that US officials are discussing the matter behind closed doors.
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US President Biden and Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hold a joint press conference in Ottawa, Canada, on March 24 (AFP)
The United States is contemplating implementing trade sanctions against Canada due to possible breaches of trade agreements stemming from a Quebec language law aimed at preserving French within the province, CBC News reported on Tuesday.
On June 1, 2022, the National Assembly of Quebec approved Bill 96, also known as the Act Respecting French, aiming to reinforce language laws to uphold French as the sole official language in Quebec and counteract what provincial authorities perceive as the diminishing use of French across the province.
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Draft regulations to enforce this legislation were made public in early January 2024, with the final regulations anticipated to be disclosed in the near future.
According to the report, US government officials have deliberated behind closed doors on the potential imposition of trade sanctions on Canada due to Quebec's legislation. This would include the shipping of US products to Canada, not only Quebec.
Officials from the US Trade Representative's (USTR) Office are assessing whether Quebec's language laws pose trade barriers, infringe on trade-related intellectual property rights, or violate Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974. They are also evaluating whether these issues merit the imposition of sanctions.
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In the report, Jean-Pierre Godbout, the spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada, stated that the Canadian government acknowledges that various stakeholders have expressed apprehensions regarding Bill 96. He mentioned that these concerns have been communicated to the Quebec government.
Thomas Verville, the spokesperson for provincial French Language Minister Jean-François Roberge, did not directly respond to USTR's internal talks.
"We are still at the stage of enacting the regulation. It will soon be final," he said. "We held a consultation period to gather all the comments."
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During a meeting on January 24, US officials, represented by USTR senior advisor Cara Morrow, discussed topics including Bill 96 with Rob Stewart, the Canadian deputy minister for international trade.
Following the meeting, the USTR's office said Morrow "shared concerns about trademark provisions of Quebec's Bill 96 and their potential implications for U.S businesses, including small and medium-sized enterprises."
