QUEBEC — Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette has announced plans to travel Sunday to Washington for meetings with political and economic players.
The visit is set against a background of the continuing trade dispute between Canada and the United States, and stalled talks to renew the Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement known as CUSMA.
It is Fréchette’s first diplomatic trip since being sworn in as Quebec premier last week.
Fréchette will travel Sunday for meetings Monday, officials confirmed Friday. She will make the trip accompanied by just her core staff.
Her list of confirmed meetings includes the Canadian ambassador to the U.S., Mark D. Wiseman, plus representatives of the U.S. Congress.
That list includes representatives Nicole Malliotakis and Claudia Tenney, who represent New York constituents, and Nebraska congressman Adrian Smith.
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She also has meetings with the business leaders including American Aluminum Association, the National Association of Home Builders and General Motors.
The trip follows a meeting Fréchette is holding Friday in Montreal with a large contingent of Quebec economic groups. She will be accompanied for the Montreal meetings by Bernard Drainville, her new super minister for the economy.
Fréchette’s trip to Washington follows her meeting Thursday with Prime Minister Mark Carney.
Fréchette emerged from that meeting saying Carney reassured her that he intends to defend key elements of the Quebec economy in trade talks, including supply management as well as Quebec’s language and culture.
The last Quebec premier to head to Washington was François Legault in February 2025. He met U.S. business leaders.
This story will be updated.