Quebec Prime Minister François Legault believes that European reaarmament and boosting of defense expenditures present a “extraordinary opportunity” for his province to diversify trade from the United States.
Legault said Europe plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on defense over the next few years at a gathering in Hanover, Germany.
The EU leader proposed a 800 million euro defense plan aimed at reducing the impact of Ukraine’s potential liberation in the war with Russia.
Legault was quick to emphasize how several Quebec defense-related sectors can contribute to the efforts, including shipbuilding, aerospace, critical minerals and artificial intelligence. These comments come as Legault continues his visit to Germany on an economic mission aimed at seeking new partners amid the threat of Trump’s tariffs on Canada.
He wrote on social media on Sunday that Quebec must turn concerns and anger over the trade war into opportunities to redefine and strengthen its economy.
In his speech to Quebec’s German delegation, Legault sent a pointy message to Trump, who had placed a 25% obligation on Canada’s aluminum. Legault noted that Quebec supplies 60% of our aluminum needs.
“Now, Trump says, ‘I don’t need you guys’… Personally, we can take a good portion of our aluminum and find Germany, among other things, and send it,” he said.
Investment Québec, president of the state’s investment division, acknowledged that it is difficult to penetrate the European defence market, but not impossible given the state’s expertise.
“I think there certainly is an opportunity for Quebec’s defense whether it’s at the helicopter, plane or flight simulator level,” Hubert Boldock said.
Legault’s trip closed on Wednesday – the same day Trump threatened to impose new tariffs on Canadian goods.
