For generations, Canada has built much of its prosperity on one certainty: its privileged relationship with the United States.
Our two economies have grown together. Companies have organized their production on both sides of the border. Entire industries have developed around this close relationship. For thousands of workers in Quebec, this trade relationship is part of their everyday lives, even if they are not always aware of it.
But in just a few years, the foundations of this relationship have been deeply shaken.
In 2025, approximately 72% of Canadian merchandise exports were still destined for the U.S. market. This figure illustrates just how dependent our economy remains on our southern neighbour.
Tariffs, trade tensions and uncertainty surrounding North American trade agreements have exposed the risks of relying too heavily on a single trading partner.
And the consequences extend far beyond corporate boardrooms. When a manufacturer loses a contract, a factory cuts production or an employer postpones investments, jobs, wages and entire communities can also be put at risk.
A warning from Davos
On January 20, 2026, Prime Minister Mark Carney delivered a speech to leaders gathered at the World Economic Forum in Davos that reflected the scale of the changes taking place.
His assessment was unequivocal: the world is not simply going through a period of transition, but a fundamental rupture.
According to Carney, major powers are increasingly using economic relationships as tools of pressure. Tariffs, investments and supply chains are no longer simply instruments of economic development. They can also be used to exert political influence.
The Prime Minister also stated that the old world order is not coming back.
For Canada, the message was clear: simply waiting for trade relations to return to their former stability is no longer enough. The country must diversify its trading partners, strengthen its economy and build new alliances.
Europe: a response to this new reality
Eight months later, Canada’s growing ties with the European Union have taken on particular significance.
On September 16, 2026, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed that Canada become the European Union’s first “associate member.”
For now, this remains a proposal. The details of this unprecedented status have yet to be defined, and it does not mean that Canada is becoming a member of the European Union.
The two partners already have a trade agreement, the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), which facilitates trade between their markets.
The proposed closer relationship could go further, strengthening cooperation in areas such as energy, critical minerals, technology and defence, among others.
For Canada, developing stronger ties with Europe represents an opportunity to diversify its markets and reduce its dependence on the United States.
But beyond the diplomatic announcements, one question remains: what could this transformation mean for workers in Quebec?
Because behind trade agreements, investments and new alliances are jobs, working conditions and communities whose futures also depend on the decisions being made today.
What could this mean for our jobs?
At this stage, it is still too early to assess the concrete impacts of this proposal. The details of the partnership have yet to be defined, and its effects will depend on the agreements that may eventually be reached. But some possibilities deserve our attention.
A potentially less vulnerable economy
When a company depends heavily on a single market, a change in trade policy can have significant consequences for its operations and jobs. Expanding into multiple markets could reduce this vulnerability and help some companies better withstand trade tensions.
But diversifying exports does not, in itself, guarantee job security. A company that develops new markets may also decide to change its production methods or how work is organized.
Different impacts across our workplaces
Closer economic ties can open up new markets for Canadian companies, but they can also increase competition in certain sectors.
In commerce and services, changes in trade and investment could affect the operations of some employers, although the exact consequences cannot yet be predicted.
For members working in building cleaning, school support services and other local services, the effects could be more limited or felt indirectly.
An economic transformation that must also benefit workers
An economic partnership should not be measured solely by the value of trade or corporate profits.
For workers, other questions matter just as much: Will new investments create stable, long-term jobs? Will the economic benefits be shared with the people who produce goods and provide services?
And if this transformation leads to changes in production methods or requires new skills, how can we ensure that workers have access to the resources and training they need to adapt?
These questions deserve a place in discussions about the future partnership.
Opening up new markets can create opportunities for economic development. But the impact on working conditions will also depend on the rules that are adopted, the decisions employers make and workers’ ability to make their voices heard.
Canada is entering a new economic reality. Closer ties with Europe could help reshape its trade relationships for decades to come. What remains to be seen is how this transformation will unfold and what place it will give to the people who keep our economy running.