Quebec politicians, association leaders react to new U.S. tariffs Saturday morning

U.S. 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian exports took effect one minute past midnight

U.S. President Donald Trump's 50 per cent tariffs on billions of dollars of Canadian exports took effect at 12:01 a.m. ET Saturday morning, after Canadian and American negotiators were unable to finalize a trade deal.

In a statement late Friday, Carney said Canada was suspending trade talks with the United States and recalling its negotiating team, saying the U.S. made "unfair" last-minute changes to the deal.

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, for his part, said Canada "declined to finalize" an agreement and made "new demands and walk backs."

Quebec is expected be one of the provinces hit hardest by the tariffs, with reactions from the province's politicians and industry leaders pouring in Saturday morning.

Here’s a roundup of what’s being said.

Quebec premier Christine Frechette reacted early Saturday to the news of the failed negotiations with the U.S.

"As the premier of Quebec, my priority is clear," she said in a statement. "Protect our economy, our businesses and our workers."

She said the tariffs will have a direct impact on workers in Quebec and that she'll be meeting with her cabinet this morning to put the necessary measures in place to support affected businesses and workers in the province.

The leader of the Conservative Party of Quebec, Éric Duhaime, said he didn't know if Fréchette would truly defend the interests of Quebecers in impacted sectors.

“We must unite behind our entrepreneurs, particularly those in the forestry and aluminum industries, as well as our farmers," he said.

Yves-François Blanchet, leader of the federal party Bloc Québécois, said in a statement that the new tariffs will be toxic to the Quebec, Canadian and American economies.

"I welcome Mark Carney’s willingness to respond with tariffs of equal value," he said. "We believe these retaliatory tariffs must cover not only the new tariffs but also the illegal duties and tariffs already in effect."

However, he said, if the deal had gone through, several concessions considered by the Liberals - including in the areas of supply management and culture - would have hurt Quebec's economy.

Carney says U.S. 'asked too much and offered too little' after trade talks fall apart

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Quebec will be the province the most impacted by today's tariffs, according to Blanchet.

The Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec (FCCQ) said their recent survey showed 68 per cent of businesses in the province were in favor of an agreement, even if it required concessions on the Canadian side.

"The worst-case scenario for Quebec businesses is playing out today: the halt in negotiations, the imposition of new tariffs, and the threat of new Canadian retaliatory tariffs," said FCCQ President Véronique Proulx.

Quebec’s Confédération des syndicats nationaux also joined the conversation.

"The CSN will evaluate the plans to assist businesses and workers that Premier Carney and Premier Fréchette intend to present, and will make every effort necessary to defend and protect the workers affected by these new tariffs," said union president Caroline Senneville in a statement.

The union is the second largest in Quebec, representing 320,000 workers in nearly 2,000 unions with employees in sectors including healthcare, manufacturing and public service.

Hayley Carolan is a journalist based in Montreal.