Quebec's economy is expected to remain under pressure as trade tensions weigh on activity, with uncertainty over the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement remaining elevated, National Bank of Canada said in a Tuesday note.
The latest US tariff threats add to downside risks for the province, it added.
While the US measures are seen largely as a negotiating tactic in USMCA renegotiations, Quebec remains especially vulnerable and is expected to be among the hardest-hit provinces in Canada, wrote National Bank Senior Economist Alexandra Ducharme in the note.
A weaker demographic outlook and higher energy costs are likely to weigh on household finances and growth, though a resilient labor market should provide some support, Ducharme added.
Earlier data highlight Quebec's relative underperformance, said the bank. The province's economy grew just 0.1% monthly in April, compared with 0.5% nationally, extending a divergence that has widened since trade tensions intensified.
Since the start of 2025, which coincides with when US President Donald Trump retook office, Quebec's economy contracted 0.5%, while Canada's expanded 1.0%.