Quebecers Warned That New Language Rules Could Lead to Fewer Products, Higher Prices

Published on March 26, 2024

Popular consumer products risk disappearing from stores across Quebec—and those that remain could be more expensive—because of the province’s French-language reform, says an association that represents thousands of foreign businesses. The costs and inconveniences around the application of draft regulations could push certain manufacturers out of the Quebec market, Etienne Sanz de Acedo, CEO of the International Trademark Association, said in a recent interview. “Companies will have to ask themselves the question, is it really relevant to be in the Quebec market,” said Mr. Sanz de Acedo, whose group represents 6,500 companies across 181 jurisdictions. Some firms, he added, might decide they’re better off pulling their products from the province, leaving consumers with less choice....

Continue reading on website
Other news

Two-Thirds of Local Councils ‘Not Confident’ in Hitting Net Zero Targets

March 26, 2024
Two-thirds of local councils in England are not confident they will hit their net zero targets, according to a survey by the Local Government Association (LGA).The association blamed it on a “bureaucratic system” of bidding for national government funding. They also called on political parties to back “a local approach” to deliver more value for money.In a press release on Monday, the LGA said its

Landmark Visa, Mastercard Settlement Will Slash $30 Billion Swipe Fees for Retailers

March 26, 2024
Visa and Mastercard have agreed to a landmark settlement, which is estimated to save retailers across the United States nearly $30 billion on swipe fees alone in five years.The settlement, announced on Tuesday, would resolve a 2005 class action antitrust lawsuit filed by a group of mostly small retailers who accused the card networks of colluding with some of the top U.S. banks to set credit card