Cara Morrow, senior adviser at the Office of the US Trade Representative, expressed concern about Quebec Bill 96, which was passed on May 24, during a meeting Wednesday with Canadian Deputy Minister of International Trade Rob Stewart.
Advisor Morrow shares the concerns of the United States “regarding the provisions of Act 96 regarding trademarks and their potential consequences for American businesses, especially small and medium-sized ones, we can read in a press release published on Wednesday, which summarizes the issues discussed at the meeting.
Law 96 specifically requires that by 2025, all businesses in the province ensure clear dominance of French on their signs. French actually has to occupy “twice as much” space as English or any other language.
French language minister Jean-François Roberge explained in an interview with TVA Nouvelles on January 12 that a company with an English name would have to add a slogan or a French-speaking description in capital letters.
The so-called “cool kids” business displays “cool kids clothing” as long as the French word is big enough.
The law also provides that all products sold on store shelves have a description in French. It tightens the rules by preventing a company from registering all of its labeling as a trademark.
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