Did Quebec’s French-language laws derail Canada-US trade talks?

Washington views Quebec’s provincial language statutes—specifically Bill 96 (revising the Charter of the French Language) and Bill 109 (affirming cultural sovereignty and digital discoverability)—as unfair trade barriers and irritants that burden American companies. Bill 96: Overhauls commercial and legal language use, requiring French labeling, product descriptions, warranties, and instruction manuals, alongside trademark translation adjustments for businesses.Bill 109: Targets digital platforms and streaming services (such as Netflix and Spotify), mandating that interfaces accommodate French configurations and allowing potential local content quotas. The U.S. had issues with Canada's subsidies for French culture; the prevalence of French-language media online and even the requirement...