Canadian diplomat and strategic advisor Louise Blais is set to serve as Quebec’s envoy for the review of the free trade agreement between Canada, the United States and Mexico, expected to take place in the coming months.
Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette made the announcement on Tuesday, praising Blais’ “exemplary and inspiring” career.
Notably, Blais has worked at the embassies in Washington, U.S., Tokyo, Jpn. and Paris, Fra.
She has also served as Canada’s Consul General in Atlanta and Deputy Permanent Representative to the United Nations.
According to Fréchette’s government, Blais possesses “in-depth knowledge of the geopolitical context and extensive experience as a negotiator,” making her well-positioned to “advocate for Quebec’s interests” during the review of the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA).
Blais is set to collaborate with the federal government’s negotiating team and other stakeholders involved in the review.
She is expected to work in particular with Canada’s chief negotiator, Janice Charette.
CUSMA, which was negotiated during Donald Trump’s first term as president of the United States, is set to undergo review starting on July 1.
This would be the first review process since the agreement came into force in 2020.
The Americans are expected to ask Canada to make several concessions, particularly regarding supply management, the system that protects dairy and egg producers in Canada.
Monday, Fréchette was in Washington as part of her first foreign mission.
Among others, she met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, an influential member of the Trump administration.
During the meeting, Fréchette emphasized Quebec’s “non-negotiables”: the primacy of the French language and supply management.
To date, CUSMA has shielded Canada from most of the tariffs that Trump has imposed since returning to the White House.
Its review could be of crucial importance to Quebec and Canadian businesses.
–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews
