Trump administration lists Quebec language law Bill 96 as trade barrier

The office of the commercial representative of the United States has published its annual list of global commercial barriers on Tuesday and includes Quebec controversial linguistic law Bill 96 as an irritating trade between the two countries.

The almost 400 pages National commercial estimate report Lists in almost encyclopedic details all the tariff and non -tariff barriers present in the countries that import US goods and services.

While the report is a capture of commercial irritants compiled by bureaucrats every year and does not necessarily reflect the priorities of the President of the United States Donald Trump, he still aroused a strong response in Canada Tuesday.

The leader of the Québécois Yves-François Blanchet block has accused Mark Carley of taking over with Trump and urged the Quebecers to turn on the liberal leader.

“Mr. Carney seems to think the same thing as Mr. Trump. How could Quebecer also consider an instant to pass their trust in that man?” Blanchet said during a stop of the campaign in Sainte-Anne-Des-Monts, Que.

“There is a way [for Qubecers] Protecting their right to live and work and be happy in French, it is trusted of Quebecers, “he added.

Blanchet’s criticism follows the observations of Carneys on Monday that a government he led he would have acted as an interval at the Supreme Court of Canada if every challenge to Bill 96.

Carney said it would do it not because it has a problem with legislation, but because it opposes the preventive use by the province of the clause despite the clause to approve the laws.

Tuesday in Winnipeg, Carley rejected the idea that everyone would negotiate with the United States on issues that affect the French language, the culture or the management of supplies. When asked if he was willing to support that commitment and protect the Quebec whatever the cost, Carley replied “yes”.

“In a negotiation when you put things aside, they remain out of the table,” he said. “I took this commitment repeatedly. I am putting the French language and the culture and management of supplies aside.

“I know how to negotiate and I want this to be clear – those things are out of the table.”

US concerns for brands, labels

Bill 96 passed the Quebec legislature in June 2022 with provisions that started immediately. Other provisions of the law entered into force in June 2023, with further measures that had an effect in June. The law modifies the French language card in Quebec, otherwise known as Bill 101.

Among other things, Bill 96 limits the use of English – one of the two official languages ​​of Canada – in the public service and allows inspectors to conduct research and convulsions without warrant in businesses.

The changes affect the use of French in the Judicial system, health care, schools, workplace and companies Throughout the provincial economy, but the question has identified as a commercial barrier from the United States is the way it affects the brands and the labeling.

“US companies have expressed concern about the impact that invoice 96 will have on their federal brands for the products manufactured after June 1, 2025, which is when the relevant provisions of invoice 96 enter into force”, says the national report on the estimate of trade.

When the new provisions kick in this summer, the trademarks displayed on a product can only appear in English if there is no French version of the registered trademark. If the brand or label contains generic terms or descriptions that are not in French, the brand must be changed to include a French version of these terms and descriptions, as well as the English version.

Companies that have violated these changes to the law can face fines up to $ 90,000 per day for their third crime, while individuals can be fined up to $ 42,000 per day for their third offense.

The office of the commercial representative of the United States declared that its officials met with the Canadian commercial counterparts at the World Trade Organization last June, where Bill 96 emerged.

“The United States encouraged the provincial government of Quebec to consider the concerns of the business sector and involve companies in the drafting of further interpretative indications on this law and on the final regulation,” says the national relationship on the estimate of trade.

Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, leader of the Québécois parts of Quebec, said that the United States move to list the bill 96 as a barrier to trade has shown the hostility of the Trump administration towards the economic and linguistic interests of Quebec.

Plamondon also targeted Carley’s objections on how the law has been approved.

“We will be in a potential negotiation in which Donald Trump says:” I have a problem with Bill 96 “and Mark Carney says:” I too, “said St-Pierre Plamondon.