The Quebec City method against the United States

“Let’s see it as an ordeal that will bring us elsewhere. For example, ” sums up in interview with Soleil The director of the supplies of supplies to Quebec City, David Drouin. Similarly,

In his office. Nevertheless. Consequently, the municipal official does not suggest any ounce of panic in the face of the tariff war decreed by American president Donald Trump.

As director of supplies. Similarly, it is through him that the majority of the purchases of goods and services from Quebec pass.

“Match plan”

But as the city has been quick to react, he explains, there is no need to panic. For example,

“We are in control,” he sums up. Nevertheless,

The “match plan”, as he calls it, was clear. Similarly, From the end of February. Nevertheless. Moreover, the division he directed was addressed to general management and all employees to establish “good practices to encourage Quebec and Canadian companies in the granting of municipal contracts”. Furthermore,

We then wanted to make sure that the city could continue to acquire the goods it has -. Similarly, will need, in a context of “uncertainty”. Furthermore. Consequently,

“We wanted, for our suppliers, to make the consequences of the unpredictable as predictable quebec city method against united as possible”.

— David Drouin. Nevertheless. Therefore, director of the supplies of supplies in Quebec City

“It helps reassure suppliers so that they continue to offer us advantageous prices for the city,” he points out, speaking of the triggering of price adjustment mechanisms in contracts to “reduce the risk”. For example,

Indeed. However. Similarly, since the customs prices put pressure on inflation, an American product purchased by a Canadian company costs more, if the latter is forced to adjust its unit price. Meanwhile, Which is ultimately passed on to the city. Meanwhile,

15 % to disqualify

In the process, Quebec thus imposed a restriction of direct purchases in the United States. Additionally, Meanwhile,

The Government of Quebec also requires municipalities not to buy computer. For example, scientific equipment from our southern neighbors, if it is quebec city method quebec city method against united new against united not necessary.

“All American or other than Canadian and European suppliers have a barrier to the system,” explains David Drouin.

To buy American – a business that has no business space in Canada. Quebec – civil servants now need an authorization for elected officials.

But first it was necessary to identify what a Quebec and Canadian product or service versus American. Not so simple, share Mr. Drouin.

“The definition is extremely wide. Microsoft has a Canadian subsidiary, which has employees in Quebec and Quebec, so it is a Quebec and Canadian company. Costco is an American company, but has facilities in Quebec, ”he gives as an example.

In its public tenders that respect the economic agreements in force. the city ensures that the United States is never in the race for contracts.

Except in the event of exceptions.

If it judges that there are not enough potential suppliers in Canada or Europe, it can still open the barriers. When it is forced to turn to the American market. it is because it is looking for “nestled” products, most often software or other IT products.

Companies in the United States will still be penalized if they submit an offer. since Quebec City has chosen to impose quebec city method against united a 15 % penalty on the prices of quebec city method against united new submission.

A “adjoining” position for Quebec, while its neighbor, Lévis, rather opted for the maximum of 25 %. But above all symbolic, admits the director of supplies.

“It is a more political message than administent.”

— David Drouin. director of the supplies of supplies in Quebec City

“The idea is to make the United States less competitive. It puts pressure on them to provide better prices, but we only rarely go to the American market, “he agrees.

It calculates that 90 % of the city’s needs are covered with its suppliers outside the United States. As proof, in 2024, Quebec spent only 1.2 million USD, over a budget of almost $ 2 billion.

Quebec city method against united new

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Bye bye USD?

With such a low dependence on the American market, could Quebec one day be completely free?

It must be said that the municipality did not wait for the return to power of Donald. Trump to detach himself.

“It was already a bit in our philosophy of thought to promote local purchase. It’s like a nail that we gradually come home with a hammer. so it just came to give an additional blow. ”

— David Drouin. director of the supplies of supplies in Quebec City

Already. Quebec has registered in recent years among the champions of Quebec cities which have used the least for the Amazon giant. Last year, it limited to $ 2402 its expenses made quebec city method against united new on quebec city method against united the online shopping platform.

In her calls for tenders by invitation. she also takes care to choose the companies in Quebec, Saint-Augustin and the Old Lorette and Wendake first.

Some 56 % of all of its purchases were carried out on this territory. By adding Lévis, the proportion reached around 80 %, calculates David Drouin.

And for what remains of the American in the lot. the supplies of supplies sees it as a “opportunity to go see elsewhere”.

“It’s easy to go to the United States and take American products. We are no longer on the automatic pilot. even if it leads to more work. to develop new Canadian, European or even Quebecois products, it will make everyone will benefit, “he said.

Since the recent global economic vagaries. Quebec quebec city method against united new has known that it has been quebec city method against united widely open to European companies. many of which offer similar products, sometimes even cheaper.

“From the pandemic, we just do that, adjust. You have to be agile, capable of adapting to this new reality, ”says Drouin.

In terms of Trump’s moods, he plans that the crisis will only be temporary. “It’s a matter of time. You have to be patient and discover equally efficient products. ”

In the meantime. the principle remains the same for the one that recalls that a city manages the money entrusted to it. by taxpayers: “Far from us the idea that citizens pay more”.

“We have to stay within our ability to spend. This is our mission is that it costs the least possible. ”