(Edinburgh) Prime Minister François Legault hardens his tone against China.
He accuses Quebec’s second economic partner of unfair competition.
He even questioned the type of trade relations maintained with the Chinese giant, which could suggest an opening to the imposition of protectionist measures.
The context is already difficult: Canada’s relations with China have deteriorated considerably since the Meng Wanzhou affair and Mr. Legault has refused to mention a possible mission to China soon – a tradition however for the premiers of Quebec since René Levesque.
During his mission to the United Nations Conference on Climate Change, COP26, in Glasgow, Mr. Legault notably criticized China for being absent from this major international summit, when it even plans to increase its gas emissions. greenhouse effect (GHG) over the next decade.
“Me, that’s what worries me,” he said in an interview with The Canadian Press on Friday. The Prime Minister has let go of the gloves and uses very strong language that is not very common in diplomacy.
“China does not compete on an equal footing with North America,” he lamented.
“We must ask ourselves questions about our trade relations with China, if it does not set environmental standards similar to others. ”
What is the point of imposing stricter environmental measures on Quebec companies and pricing their polluting emissions, if the Chinese empire does not give itself the same constraints and flood our markets with products which are therefore less expensive, suggests Mr. Legault.
“We will have to ask questions about our trade with China,” he warns.
He recalled that Quebec’s trade balance with China is largely in deficit.
According to 2019 data from the Institut de la statistique du Québec, China exported nearly 13 billion goods to Quebec, while Quebec exported 3.3 billion and the trend was downward.
“It is detrimental to job creation in Quebec,” concludes Mr. Legault.
However, he remains “realistic”, in his words: it is not Quebec alone that will bend China.
“We have to come together, Canada, the United States, the European Union, to convince them to make changes. ”
China mainly exports computers, telephones, seats and beds, and parts for aeronautics to Quebec.
Quebec exports iron ore, pork, vehicles and flight simulators.
Since René Lévesque in 1984, the premiers of Quebec have carried out missions in China. The last to have perpetuated this tradition is Philippe Couillard, in 2014 and 2018. Quebec is also twinned with a partner, the State of Shandong.