QUEBEC — Premier Christine Fréchette says she believes she was able to draw a line in the sand over what Quebec will and won’t accept in any renewal of its trade relations with the United States.
Wrapping up a whirlwind one-day trade mission to Washington, D.C., on Monday, Fréchette said she believes she “hit a home run” in her encounters.
The highlight was a surprise one-hour chat with the U.S. trade representative responsible for the revision of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), Jamieson Greer.
Fréchette said she made it clear to Greer that the protection of Quebec’s supply management system and the French language and culture are “non-negotiable” issues for her government.
Asked by reporters about Greer’s reaction and whether Quebec’s dairy industry is safe, Fréchette said: “He did not insist too much on this dimension.
“Does that mean he agrees with me? I would not go as far as that, but he did not insist.”
Her meeting with Greer came as a last-minute addition to Fréchette’s agenda; it had not been confirmed until she arrived.
Fréchette revealed in a social media post that the meeting with the influential member of the Trump administration had taken place. It is unusual for a provincial leader to meet such a high-placed official.
J’ai rencontré ce matin le représentant américain au Commerce, Jamieson Greer, responsable de la révision de l’ACEUM.
Le Québec souhaite un renouvellement de l’accord afin d’assurer un cadre stable et prévisible pour nos échanges économiques.
J’ai souligné à M. Greer que le… pic.twitter.com/9sFp8hdfzz
— Christine Fréchette (@CFrechette) April 27, 2026
Fréchette described the day, her first foray outside Canada since being sworn in as premier on April 15, as “intense and productive.”
She said she made it clear to Greer that the trade war between Canada and the United States is bad for both sides.
“Not only does it hurt the Quebec economy, but also it hurts the wallets of American citizens,” she said. “This is something I wanted to underline.”
Fréchette said her trip came as a reminder to the Americans that Quebec is an important player in the U.S. economy, mentioning its capacity to produce aluminum and hydroelectric power.
She said if the United States wants to produce its own aluminum, it will need massive amounts of hydro power, which it does not have.
“I said we have the smelters already in Quebec,” Fréchette said. “So you don’t need to launch new projects, because we can sell our aluminum at competitive prices.”
Fréchette, who returns to Quebec Tuesday to chair a Wednesday cabinet meeting, capped her trip with an announcement that career diplomat Louise Blais has been named as Quebec’s representative for the CUSMA talks.
The announcement was made in a joint statement by Fréchette and Bernard Drainville, the minister for the economy, innovation and energy.
Blais has a long record in the field. In 2014, she was named Canada’s consul general in Atlanta before serving as the Canadian ambassador to the United Nations from 2017 to 2021.
Fréchette’s entourage stressed to reporters that the premier was not in Washington to handle trade negotiations, a role Quebec recognizes as a federal responsibility.
But she used the trip to make Quebec’s case and create a “positive image” with the Americans, officials said.
Talks to renew CUSMA are set to kick off in July and have already sparked tensions between the U.S. and Canada.
Last week, Greer issued a threat, saying the U.S. might have to take retaliatory action against Canada over its rejection of American wines and spirits.
Several provinces pulled U.S. alcohol from their shelves last year to protest tariffs.
Both Fréchette and Ontario Premier Doug Ford have rejected the idea of returning U.S. alcohol to stores.
“The short answer is no.”
Newly appointed Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette has ruled out returning American alcohol products to SAQ shelves.
“I don’t think that we should make concessions before having discussions with our American partners.”
Read the latest:… pic.twitter.com/UDAbe0eotx
— Montreal Gazette (@mtlgazette) April 23, 2026
Prime Minister Mark Carney also responded to Greer’s complaint about trade irritants.
“What’s an irritant?” Carney asked. “Fifty per cent tariffs on steel, 50 per cent tariffs on aluminum, 25 per cent on automobiles. All the tariffs on forest products. Those are more than irritants — those are violations of our trade deal.”
On Monday, Fréchette tried extending a hand.
“Building an economic relationship based on unpredictability and uncertainty is impossible,” she said in a social media post. “To prosper, we need a beneficial accord and not tariffs. This is what Quebecers want.
“This is what our American partners want. This is what I want also. I thank (Greer) for the frank and constructive exchanges. Quebec remains a reliable and unavoidable partner. We extend our hand to build a strong economy without ever giving in.”
Her first meeting Monday was with Canadian Ambassador Mark Wiseman.
“I think it was important for me to come to the United States quickly,” Fréchette said, arriving at the embassy. “I am here to defend Quebec’s interests here in Washington.
“You know we are an important strategic player in many industrial sectors. It’s important to remind them.”
Fréchette’s trip followed a series of early moves as premier, including a meeting Friday in Montreal with Quebec’s economic players.
Quebec’s steel, aluminum and lumber industries have been hit hard by tariffs imposed by the Trump administration.
The United States is Quebec’s main trading partner. In 2024, nearly three-quarters of Quebec’s exports were destined for the U.S.
But the province’s aluminum and steel exports have been hit with 50 per cent tariffs. Quebec lumber faces 45 per cent tariffs when it goes across the border.
Washington has also been demanding concessions on the supply management system, which protects dairy farms and jobs in Quebec.
Quebec’s economy has scrambled to diversify given the new reality. The provincial government has also stepped up with various programs to help industries cope with tariffs.
After her meeting on Friday with Quebec’s economic players, Fréchette praised their resilience, noting that in the last year, exports to non-U.S. markets were up 10 per cent.
“The tumultuous period is not over,” Fréchette said, standing in the lobby of the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec in Old Montreal. “We are all aware of this.
“This is why I am going to Washington — to explain the importance of the Quebec-U.S. trade relationship and to explain how much the tariff war hurts not only the Quebec economy, but the American economy as well.
“I will try to get this message to percolate. I will try to influence the events to come.”
Following her meeting with Wiseman on Monday, Fréchette attended a roundtable of American and Canadian business associations before moving on to private meetings with some U.S. Congress members.
Present for the roundtable were the U.S. Aluminum Association, the U.S. National Lumber and Building Material Dealers Association as well as a representative of General Motors.
The list of other political meetings included sessions with U.S. House of Representatives members Nicole Malliotakis and Claudia Tenney of New York and Adrian Smith of Nebraska, all Republicans.
Philip Authier joined the The Gazette in 1989 and has spent most of his career covering Quebec politics and government. From Sherbrooke, he is the Gazette reporter covering the National Assembly in Quebec City.