{"id":15776,"date":"2026-07-20T13:02:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T10:02:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harici.com.tr\/en\/?p=15776"},"modified":"2026-07-20T13:02:40","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T10:02:40","slug":"quebec-pivots-to-europe-to-counter-us-tariff-threats-and-chinese-monopoly-on-minerals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harici.com.tr\/en\/quebec-pivots-to-europe-to-counter-us-tariff-threats-and-chinese-monopoly-on-minerals\/","title":{"rendered":"Quebec pivots to Europe to counter US tariff threats and Chinese monopoly on minerals"},"content":{"rendered":"

Quebec and Europe are set to deepen their economic ties and reinforce the resilience of their shared supply chains in response to mounting geopolitical tensions with the US and China.<\/p>\n

Christopher Skeete, Quebec\u2019s Minister of International Relations and La Francophonie, told<\/a><\/span> Euractiv that US tariffs and Chinese export restrictions on strategically important minerals have driven Canada\u2019s mineral-rich province to further develop its relations with Europe, a continent with which it shares deep historical, social, and cultural ties.<\/p>\n

As the only French-speaking majority region in North America, Quebec shares “common values, a common world view [and] a common destiny” with Europe, Skeete said.<\/p>\n

“Right now, we are putting more weight into this space, and we hope to go further, to achieve more,” Skeete added. “We believe in building a deeper relationship with Europe as a way of mitigating some of the risk of being dependent on our historically single customer, which is the United States.”<\/p>\n

The comments come amid a warming of relations between Canada and Europe over the past year.<\/p>\n

US tariffs hit provincial economy<\/strong><\/p>\n

Sweeping tariffs proposed by US President Donald Trump, his ambivalent stance toward NATO, and threats to annex Canada and Greenland have accelerated efforts to strengthen economic and defence cooperation.<\/p>\n

With an economy heavily focused on manufacturing, Quebec has been hit particularly hard by this geopolitical volatility.<\/p>\n

Trump\u2019s tariffs have severely impacted the province’s export-dependent industries, especially its aluminium smelters. More than 70% of Quebec’s exports are destined for the US.<\/p>\n

The province, which shares jurisdiction over economic matters with the Canadian federal government, is also highly vulnerable to supply disruptions in critical minerals used in numerous modern technologies, the production of which is dominated by China.<\/p>\n

Mineral-rich Quebec crucial for “de-risking”<\/strong><\/p>\n

However, this mineral-rich region increasingly produces lithium, graphite, and various other elements considered strategically critical by Brussels.<\/p>\n

“We can help Europe be more sovereign, while also helping them de-risk their dependency on Asian supply chains,” Skeete said, adding that the province aims to increase both its mining and refining capacity.<\/p>\n

Asked whether breaking Beijing’s dominance over the global supply of critical minerals would be difficult, Skeete replied:<\/p>\n

“It\u2019s not a question of whether it\u2019s hard. I think it\u2019s a moral imperative. I think we have no choice.”<\/p>\n

Skeete also highlighted Quebec\u2019s capacity to strengthen Europe\u2019s defence sector, noting that a Montreal-based company is the only Canadian firm to have signed a contract under the EU’s \u20ac150 billion ‘SAFE’ credit programme so far.<\/p>\n

“We definitely want a second SAFE programme,” he said. “If we don\u2019t seize this moment of a changing world to deeply integrate our economies, I think we will have missed a huge opportunity.”<\/p>\n

Quebec to prioritise transatlantic relations<\/strong><\/p>\n

On 16 June 2026, the Government of Quebec announced<\/a><\/span> its new international policy, titled “A reliable Qu\u00e9bec in a world in transformation”.<\/p>\n

Presented by Quebec Premier Christine Fr\u00e9chette and Skeete, the policy represents the first major update since 2017 and marks a significant shift in Quebec’s approach to international relations.<\/p>\n

Amid global uncertainties such as trade tensions with the US, the war in Ukraine, and the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI), Quebec is redefining its international strategy and priorities through the lens of “national interest”.<\/p>\n

This has major implications for businesses and investors. According to 2025 figures, the Quebec economy generates an annual GDP of over 600 billion Canadian dollars (approximately 427.6 billion US dollars) and exports worth approximately 180 billion Canadian dollars (approximately 128.3 billion US dollars).<\/p>\n

To reshape its international relations, Quebec has identified three key areas of focus: diversifying trade relations, renewing diplomatic efforts in line with Quebec’s interests, and asserting Quebec’s identity more strongly abroad.<\/p>\n

Through these priorities, the newly released policy document sets out the government\u2019s core directions and outlines six key areas for businesses and investors:<\/p>\n