Quebec Premier Couillard to Meet with Policy Makers in Washington D.C.

Philippe Couillard, Quebec’s Premier, will be going for a one day visit in Washington, D.C., for an encounter with U.S. President Donald Trump’s envoy on trade.

During a number of meetings designed to concentrate on Canada-U.S. business relations, it is expected that Quebec’s Premier will meet with Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross and the ambassador of Canada to the United States, David MacNaughton, as well as several senators.

It is quite difficult to know exactly all what will be discussed during this meeting, but NAFTA talks, supply management, softwood lumber litigation and trade complaint filed by Boeing against Bombardier are expected to be important aspects in Couillard’s list.

In 2015, Quebec exported about $59.4 billion in goods to the United States, making up for about 72 per cent of its international exports, according to data from the government.

Couillard’s one day visit to the U.S. comes weeks after a commission of eight provincial and territorial leaders went to Washington for a meeting with U.S. administration officials, legislators and business leaders.

Couillard, last week said that he wanted to highlight the fact that trade agreements were profitable to both Canada and the United States.

“Our message to the Americans is that trade agreements are good for you too,” he said Friday towards the end of the latest session of Quebec’s legislature. “Nine million jobs in 35 American states are dependent on it.”