French language laws become flashpoint in Canada-US trade dispute

French language protections have become a key sticking point in the escalating Canada-US trade dispute after talks collapsed last week, with Prime Minister Mark Carney walking away from a deal he said threatened French culture. Carney said Monday Canada "could not accept" the proposed agreement that would have weakened French language laws, which require bilingual product labels and Canadian content on US streaming platforms. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer dismissed the concerns as a "funny, fake story," widening the rift between the allies. The US has imposed 50% tariffs on roughly $20 billion of Canadian goods, with matching measures set for September 8. Language rights are constitutionally entrenched in Canada, particularly vital to Quebec, which held a 1995 independence referendum lost by just 1.16%.