Mission to Paris: Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette lowers expectations

Quebec Premier Christine Frechette travelled to France to meet with President Emmanuel Macron and talk trade. (Jacques Boissinot/The Canadian Press; Amanuel Sileshi/The Associated Press)

Right from the start of her mission to Paris, Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette has lowered expectations. She is not guaranteeing an agreement by the end of her trip and refuses to reiterate the goals set by her predecessor, François Legault, to double or even triple trade with France.

“I can’t guarantee an announcement, but I can guarantee that we’ll make progress,” the premier said during a press scrum on Sunday at Place du Québec in Paris, amid torrential rain.

How, then, does she measure the success or failure of her mission?

“It’s through the advancement of a number of partnerships and projects that we’ll be able to see that. Will this be finalized in the next three days, or will it be later? I can’t say. But what I can tell you is that every meeting we have with the French, whether in Quebec or in France, helps to strengthen our partnerships and our projects,” she explained.

Fréchette’s predecessor, Legault, said he wanted to double, or even triple, trade between Quebec and France. The new premier remained more cautious.

“I don’t want to set a specific numerical target in the short term. We want to strengthen our trade relations, boost our exports, increase investments on both sides, and work together,” she stated.

U.S. tariffs continue to hurt the Quebec and Canadian economies. In this context, the Quebec government wants businesses to diversify their markets.

Fréchette believes this message has been heard.

“Because our exports outside the United States have increased by 10 per cent in recent months. France is part of that growth, but it’s not enough yet,” the premier said.

However, Quebec remains heavily dependent on the U.S. market. In 2025, Quebec’s exports of goods to the United States reached $84.8 billion (69.8 per cent).

Fréchette intends to address the issue of defence during her mission. With Europe planning to invest 800 billion euros to rearm, the government wants Quebec to come out on top and secure its share of defence contracts.

“I think that in the defence sector, we really have shared interests because we are a reliable, stable partner with recognized expertise, and France is looking for that kind of relationship,” the premier said.

This is Fréchette’s second foreign mission. She visited Washington a few weeks ago.

The premier will be in Paris until May 20.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published in French on May 17, 2026.