Tariff Dispute: Quebec Mayors Find Support in Vermont

Tariff Dispute: Quebec Mayors Find Support in Vermont

The Union of Quebec Municipalities (UMQ) and the Vermont Mayors Coalition (VMC) are joining forces to call for the removal of customs tariffs that directly affect communities on both sides of the border. According to the UMQ, municipal leaders are seeing firsthand the concrete effects of these measures on their local economies, businesses, and residents. The organization argues that U.S. tariffs on Canadian products, as well as Canada’s retaliatory counter-tariffs, are harming both economies.

“As the governments closest to the people, municipalities are best positioned to testify to the economic and social impacts of these trade policies and to urge decision-makers to limit current and future damage. Vermont is a strategic trading partner for Quebec, particularly in the areas of tourism, manufacturing, agriculture, food, and energy,” the UMQ stated in a press release.

The municipalities reaffirmed their commitment to working hand in hand, across borders, to defend their communities’ common interests and to build strong and lasting economic relationships. Bound by close ties on both sides of the border, the UMQ and the VMC continue their joint efforts, in partnership with chambers of commerce and higher levels of government, to ensure that the voices of municipalities and their economic partners are heard.

“The bonds forged between mayors in Quebec and the State of Vermont are strong and meaningful. Our communities are deeply interconnected. What affects businesses and families in Vermont has repercussions here in Quebec, and vice versa. It is essential that our governments take action to restore fair and sustainable trade relations,” said Guillaume Tremblay, President of the UMQ and Mayor of Mascouche.

“Vermont and Quebec have long maintained economic, cultural, and social ties, and I am grateful for the opportunity to strengthen these relationships between our communities. As we work together to maintain these important partnerships, it is crucial that our federal government reverse the hasty and harmful trade measures taken against our Canadian neighbors,” said Burlington Mayor Emma Mulvaney-Stanak.