Québec, the August 28, 2026 - Five days after new U.S. tariffs took effect, affecting nearly $8 billion in Quebec exports, Quebec Liberal Party leader Charles Milliard today unveiled new commitments to build a more resilient economy in the face of economic uncertainties.
After recently announcing measures to support our businesses in the very short term in light of the tariff crisis—including $1.6 billion in direct aid—the PLQ is now proposing commitments to prepare for the future by helping our businesses diversify their markets.
Ways to diversify our export markets and reduce our dependence on the U.S. market
- Today, approximately 70% of our international exports go to the United States. A Liberal government will set a goal during its first term to forge new alliances with, among others, our allies in Canada, Europe, and the Francophonie in order to reduce the share of our exports going to the United States by at least 15%;
- We propose attracting foreign companies and buyers to Quebec through reverse trade missions in order to create economic networks that will enable our entrepreneurs to diversify their export markets. These missions will also enable our companies that need to replace a U.S. supplier to find new partners, first in Quebec, then across Canada, and elsewhere in the world when necessary.
“Our entrepreneurs who want to export often don’t have enough time or resources to undertake multiple international business trips. By attracting foreign companies and buyers here, we make life easier for our entrepreneurs, open doors for them, and help them increase their exports.”
- Charles Milliard, Leader of the Quebec Liberal Party
We also offer:
- The elimination of as many trade barriers as possible with the Canadian provinces;
- More flexible support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) that wish to join forces and pool their resources to jointly enter foreign markets, drawing inspiration from proven international models;
- A genuine strategy for economic outreach within the Francophonie to better leverage the French language as an economic advantage for Quebec.
The goal of these measures is clear: to reduce our dependence on the United States—both in terms of what we buy and what we sell—and to enable our companies to break into new markets.
More than 680,000 jobs are generated by international trade
Foreign trade supports more than 680,000 jobs in Quebec and is a major driver of wealth creation.
“Diversifying our markets isn’t just a theoretical discussion about foreign trade. It’s about protecting the paychecks of hundreds of thousands of Quebec families, helping our businesses grow, and making our economy less vulnerable to decisions made in Washington.”, concluded Mr. Milliard.
The Liberal leader said that other parts of his economic plan will be unveiled in the coming days.
