Bloc leader says he wants legal opinion on prospect of U.S. trade sanctions over language law

Bloc Québécois Leader Yves-François Blanchet says he will ask for a legal opinion on whether the U.S. government has any legal grounds to impose trade sanctions on Canada in response to Quebec's controversial language law Bill 96.

Speaking to reporters Tuesday, Blanchet said records that show the U.S. Trade Representative's office has discussed possible sanctions don't correspond with what the U.S. State Department has told him during trips to Washington — that while they don't necessarily like Bill 96, American businesses respect Canadian and Quebec law.

«It worries me,» Blanchet said. «Before I get carried away publicly, I will ask for a well-documented legal opinion.»

Blanchet suggested a lobby group has influenced the U.S. government.

«I understand that there is perhaps a lobby that has been exercised,» he said. «I have asked for a legal opinion on the tenor of the trade agreements to see if there really substance for a penalty imposed by the United States on such a basis, which would be a dangerous precedent for the protection of French in Quebec.»

Blanchet's comments come after CBC News obtained documents under the U.S. Freedom of Information Act that show U.S government officials have discussed the possibility of trade sanctions against Canada in response to Bill 96.

The documents also reveal that U.S. government officials are being told that the implementation of Bill 96 could result in fewer products being shipped to Canada — not just to Quebec.

The documents show that officials from the U.S. Trade Representative's office have debated whether the legislation — which includes provisions that could affect things like commercial signs, trademarks and labels on products — contravenes trade agreements between Canada and the