In response to U.S. tariffs, Premier François Legault will be on an economic mission to Germany until April 2 to position Quebec as a partner of choice in European markets.
The opposition recognizes that this is the right thing to do in the current context. At the same time, they are demanding that this mission result in concrete gains and that it is not just a communications exercise on the part of the premier.
Although his expectations are not ‘very high’, Liberal MNA Frédéric Beauchemin hopes that the premier will return to Quebec with “real market openings” and “written agreements,” concerning, for example, the “automotive sector.”
“There should already be principles of agreement,” he said in an interview with The Canadian Press.
Beauchemin criticized the premier for being in “reaction mode” to the U.S. tariffs and for not having carried out enough economic missions in the past.
“For the moment, I’m expecting more of a marketing operation than anything else …. For the past seven years, this government looked in the mirror and thought it was good. As if what they were doing was the best way to go about it. We have to admit that they were wrong,” he said.
This is Premier Legault’s first mission to Germany, although he has already been to France on a number of occasions and has not ruled out returning.
During his trip to Germany, he will be accompanied by around 100 key players from the Quebec business community.
‘Exploring new markets’
Since the start of the trade war with U.S. President Donald Trump, Legault has maintained that Quebec must reduce its dependence on the United States.
The Parti Québécois recognizes that it is a “good thing” that the government is “getting into new market exploration mode.”
“What we hope is that the premier will have significant meetings ... with major companies that are in cutting-edge sectors for us and with German decision-makers,’ says PQ MNA Pascal Paradis.
The MNA also hopes that Legault will not “repeat the serious mistakes made in Washington” and that he will avoid “erratic communications.”
“He launched some very bad ideas from Washington. He has called for the free trade agreement to be reopened at the worst possible time. Remember that he offered to make major concessions to the Americans in key sectors such as aerospace, timber and aluminum. So we’re asking our premier not to think out loud,” the MNA said.
During his trip, Premier Legault will be visiting the Hannover Messe, the world’s largest industrial technology trade fair, which this year is putting Canada in the spotlight. The fair will host some 4,000 exhibitors from 150 countries. More than 130,000 visitors are expected.
Legault wants to support Quebec companies and manufacturing associations in their efforts to diversify their markets and improve their productivity. He will also be seeking to meet with political dignitaries and business leaders.
‘Breaking our dependence on the United States’
Québec solidaire (QS) MNA Alejandra Zaga Mendez is hoping to see some “interesting announcements in terms of diversification” in order to “break our dependence on the United States.”
But the QS MNA warns the premier to avoid making the same mistake of putting “all our eggs in the same basket.”
“I would very much like to see the same energy for local diversification; encouraging local buying here in Quebec. The problem is that if the American market closes and the European market becomes unstable, we mustn’t find ourselves back at square one ... We mustn’t put everything in Europe,” she said.
Zaga Mendez believes that Quebec should not limit itself to Europe: “There are partnerships to be forged with Latin America and other Asian countries, beyond China,” she added.
The premier’s mission comes just days after Trump announced the imposition of 25 per cent tariffs on cars imported into the United States. The president plans to impose a new round of tariffs on April 2.
Germany is Quebec’s leading economic partner in Europe. The province exported $1.6 billion worth of products to Germany in 2024.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on March 29, 2025.
Thomas Laberge, The Canadian Press
