On Wednesday, May 21, the Ghislain Dufour Business Forum welcomed Stéphanie Allard-Gomez, Québec’s Delegate General in Mexico, Isabelle Dessureault, Québec’s Delegate in Miami, and John Parisella, Senior Advisor at NATIONAL, for a panel moderated by economist Julien Provencher-Proulx, Senior Director of Public Affairs and Corporate Communications at NATIONAL.
The panel aimed to provide an update on the evolving relationship between the three signatories of the Canada–United States–Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), particularly in light of the “selective enforcement” of tariff measures introduced by Washington since the start of President Donald Trump’s second term. Introduced by Maximilian Fiorante, Senior Consultant at NATIONAL, the panellists shared high-value insights to help Forum members adapt to the new dynamics of trade with the U.S. and Mexico.
Québec’s Delegate in Miami confirmed the growing influence of Florida in U.S. politics, largely due to the presence of President Trump’s headquarters at Mar-a-Lago. When asked by Julien Provencher-Proulx, Dessureault confirmed that southern U.S. states are enjoying strong federal support due to their pro-business culture, favourable tax regimes, and embodiment of the American Dream—all traits that resonate with the Trump administration.
On the Mexican front, despite a sense of betrayal—shared by many Quebecers and Canadians—the relationship between President Claudia Sheinbaum and her U.S. counterpart remains solid. General Delegate of Québec in Mexico, Stéphanie Allard-Gomez, noted the many diplomatic overtures made by Mexico to Washington. However, the Canada–Mexico relationship has grown more complex in recent years, especially due to changes in visa requirements for Mexican citizens travelling to Canada. Nonetheless, ties between President Sheinbaum and Canada’s new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, are positive—a reassuring sign for Québec, given that Mexico is its fifth-largest export destination.
According to John Parisella, the first 100 days of Trump’s second term have raised many concerns but also helped clarify some key priorities—chief among them, the urgent need to reform immigration systems among the three countries. While MAGA supporters still strongly back President Trump, Mr. Parisella noted a rising fear among Americans of a potential economic slowdown. Recently, over 1,300 protests have taken place across several states, driven by anxiety over the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) initiatives, where Elon Musk is leading a radical anti-bureaucracy agenda. Over four million protesters voiced concerns that the job losses triggered by DOGE conflict with Trump’s campaign promises and could stoke nationwide inflation.
Still, Mr. Parisella remains optimistic, believing that today’s tensions between Canada and the U.S. could pave the way for a renewed, constructive dialogue in the medium term.
Meanwhile, Québec’s international delegations are taking proactive steps to support Quebec businesses and prepare them for emerging business opportunities across the U.S. markets. The panellists also took a moment to highlight the critical role played by Québec’s global representation network—particularly relevant this year as the Gérin-Lajoie doctrine celebrates its 60th anniversary.
The delegations are also closely watching the potential impacts of the U.S. midterm elections, set for November 2026—just 18 months away. Many developments are expected between now and then, and the Forum plans to provide ongoing updates on this evolving context.
As is tradition, the three panellists engaged in a Q&A session with attendees, followed by closing remarks from Mirabel Paquette, Partner and Senior Vice-President, Corporate Communications at NATIONAL’s Montreal office. The event concluded with a lively networking cocktail, allowing Forum members to continue the conversation.
From left to right: Julien Provencher-Proulx, economist and Senior Director, Public Affairs and Corporate Communications at NATIONAL; Martin Daraiche, President and Managing Partner at NATIONAL; John Parisella, Senior Advisor at NATIONAL; Isabelle Dessureault, Québec’s Delegate in Miami (and incoming President and Chief Executive Officer of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal); Stéphanie Allard-Gomez, Delegate General in Mexico; Mirabel Paquette, Partner and Senior Vice-President, Corporate Communications at NATIONAL and Coordinator of the Ghislain Dufour Forum; and Maximilian Fiorante, Senior Consultant at NATIONAL.
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The Ghislain Dufour Business Forum allows business people to meet and engage in dialogue with Quebec and Canadian political and business figures, political advisors or high-level public administrators on an apolitical and non-partisan basis. For more information, visit the event page.
