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By Rich Percival
Associate News Editor
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Quebec's new provincial government is launching its own US trade team to fight Donald Trump's tariffs.
Quebec Premier Paul St-Pierre Plamondon, leader of the pro-independence Parti Québécois, is spearheading the initiative, known as "Team Quebec".
The team will seek to defend Quebec industries affected by American tariffs, such as aluminum, lumber and manufacturing.
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Alongside this, St-Pierre Plamondon also sent letters to 59 newly elected U.S. politicians, inviting the state representatives to work directly with a Quebec delegate on "new projects and initiatives for the benefit of our respective populations”.
However, the move has sparked disagreement with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who leads the federal government and insists the country should have a single negotiator to deal with Washington.
“In a negotiation, it’s always a good idea to have one negotiator. And that is the government’s responsibility,” Carney told a press conference.
But in a statement to reporters, St-Pierre Plamondon said Carney “would like us to not put on our skates and never be on the ice because he would like the rink to himself.", adding: "Welcome to Quebec. We have always taken our place.”
He went on: “I will do what I think is in the interests of Quebec, in the name of Quebecers, because I am the premier of Quebec.
“Mr Carney is not my boss and he won’t impede Quebec from doing what it has always done, which is to have an international representation. So in the coming months, expect to have a Quebec that takes its place in the world.”
Quebec's New US Trade Team
The new “Team Quebec” will be led by former Quebec lawmaker Pascal Paradis as chief negotiator.
His responsibilities include representing Quebec in discussions involving American authorities when necessary, particularly as Canada and the United States work through their trade differences.
The former lawmaker has experience in international legal work, including with Lawyers Without Borders Canada, and previously served on a committee dealing with commercial disputes under the North American Free Trade Agreement.
He is expected to work alongside Quebec's international relations minister, Dieudonné Ella Oyono.
The new team is expected to build on Quebec's existing diplomatic presence in the United States rather than establish an entirely separate network.
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Quebec already maintains representatives in Washington and other American cities, allowing the province to promote trade and investment and maintain relationships with businesses and political leaders.
However, its launch date, full membership and budget have yet to be announced.
Announcing the appointment of Paradis as chief negotiator, St-Pierre Plamondon said in correspondence seen by Newsweek: “I have always maintained that Quebec must be at the table, not on the menu, and we are taking the necessary steps to adequately defend Quebec's interests.
“He [Paradis] will notably be called upon to act as the government's chief diplomat and negotiator when tariff negotiations with American and Canadian authorities are relaunched.”
Letters to New US Senators
St-Pierre Plamondon has written to 59 newly elected or re-elected American senators and governors, inviting them to cooperate with Quebec representatives.
Recipients include Texas senator-elect James Talarico and Michigan senator-elect Abdul El-Sayed. The letters emphasise the economic relationships between Quebec and individual American states.
One cited approximately $10 billion in trade between Quebec and Texas in 2025, illustrating the commercial interests at stake for businesses on both sides of the border.
In the letter, according to Le Journal de Montréal, ended with: “As you begin your mandate, Quebec looks forward to working with your team to advance our common goals and to discuss new projects and initiatives for the benefit of both our jurisdictions.”
Trade between Quebec and the United States was worth approximately US$91 billion in 2025, according to figures published by the Institut de la statistique du Québec, the province's official statistics agency.
Quebec exported approximately US$61 billion in goods to the US and imported US$30 billion, giving the province a trade surplus of around US$31 billion.
The United States accounted for 48.9 percent of Quebec's total international merchandise trade in 2025, down from 53.1 percent the previous year.
Nearly 70 percent of Quebec's international merchandise exports went to American buyers, highlighting the importance of the US market to the province as businesses face uncertainty over Donald Trump's tariffs.
Carney’s Approach
Carney has insisted Donald Trump remains the key to securing a US–Canada trade deal, despite Democrats sweeping to victory in the midterm elections.
Speaking to reporters in Montreal on Tuesday, Carney said: "What is clear is that the people who decide on trade agreements are the executive in the United States over the next two or three years." He added that the decisions rested with "the President, the executive and Americans, not necessarily legislators."
His comments come as Democrats prepare to challenge Trump's tariffs on Canadian goods after winning control of Congress.
The election results have left Ottawa weighing whether to accept a deal that reduces some tariffs or wait for lawmakers to attempt to repeal them altogether.
Carney also pushed back against plans by Quebec's new provincial government to establish its own US trade team and approach American politicians directly.
The Canadian leader revealed he had spoken with Trump over the weekend and could meet him again at upcoming international summits.
"It's good to sit down, but it's not absolutely necessary," Carney said, indicating that negotiations could continue without another face-to-face meeting.
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The two countries have struggled to reach an agreement since Canada suspended trade negotiations in August over US demands involving sovereignty, French-language protections and cultural policies.
Carney noted some disagreements had been overcome but warned: "There are still some tough issues to resolve with the Americans in this negotiation."
Trump previously said the countries were "very close" to an agreement, although his administration has imposed tariffs of 50 percent on billions of dollars in Canadian goods.
Carney has welcomed Democratic efforts to repeal the duties but has not said whether the election results will change Canada's negotiating strategy. Trump could veto any legislation aimed at removing the tariffs.
Carney also accused automaker Stellantis of betraying Canadian workers after it agreed to sell its idled Brampton, Ontario, factory to armored vehicle manufacturer Roshel, having shifted planned Jeep Compass production to Illinois.
Separately, he confirmed plans to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping at next week's APEC summit in Shenzhen as Canada seeks to strengthen its international economic relationships.
Wider Regional Tensions
The new trade initiative also comes amid wider tensions between Quebec's provincial government and Ottawa.
St-Pierre Plamondon recently declined to attend a Canada–European Union summit in Montreal after a disagreement over his participation.
Paradis attended the event on his behalf, demonstrating that he has already begun carrying out diplomatic responsibilities before Team Quebec's formal unveiling.
St-Pierre Plamondon also met Bloc Québécois leader Yves-François Blanchet on November 10 to discuss cooperation over the tariff dispute.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Richard Percival and Cristina Diciu.
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