Quebec premier says Trump's border security concerns are 'legitimate' after tariff threat

Quebec Premier François Legault wants Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to appease Donald Trump by tightening border security and clamping down on the illegal drug trade in response to the president-elect's threat of imposing 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports.

Legault held a news conference in Quebec City Tuesday afternoon, telling reporters tariffs of 10 per cent, as Trump had previously threatened during his campaign, or 25 per cent, as he threatened Monday, would have disastrous effects on Quebec's economy.

"Twenty-five per cent tariffs would mean tens of thousands of lost jobs for Quebec and for Canada so we have to take it very, very seriously," Legault said.

The premier said he believes Trump's fears about a rise in migration at the U.S. northern and southern borders are "legitimate."

"I was the first to say the border was a sieve," Legault said. "The numbers are a lot bigger in Mexico but there is still an important number of people going through Canada to get to the U.S."

He said he wanted Canada to avoid a tariff war by retaliating with its own tariffs on American goods. Quebec's exports to the U.S. amount to $87 billion while its imports from the country represent half of that at $43 billion, Legault said. 

Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre have both suggested Canada should impose retaliatory tariffs if Trump follows through on his threat after his inauguration on Jan. 20. 

Trudeau has agreed to a meeting with Canadian premiers on Wednesday. Legault said he would be requesting a Quebec representative at all negotiations with the U.S. on trade moving forward. 

He called on Trudeau to increase border security, including in the Kanien'kehá:ka community of Akwesasne which straddles three borders: Quebec, Ontario and New York.

Legault also said Trudeau should determine which industries the U.S. would not be able to do without — such as electricity and aluminum — and use them as negotiation tactics. 

Nearly 70 per cent of Quebec's exports are to the U.S., most of which are aircraft parts, aluminum, mineral fuels and forestry products.

Quebec had expected a Trump presidency to be uncertain and knew the threat of tariffs was looming, Benjamin Bélair, Quebec's representative in Washington D.C., said in an interview on Radio-Canada's Tout un Matin.

"For us, it's not a surprise," he said.

But he stressed that a 25 per cent tariff would penalize both Canadian and U.S. consumers. Quebec exports 90 per cent of its aluminum to the United States for use in manufacturing. A tariff on those exports would cause prices to rise.