Governor Abbott Meets with Quebec Premier François Legault in Davos
DAVOS – Governor Greg Abbott today met with Quebec Premier François Legault at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. The two leaders discussed the strong economic partnership and trade relationship between Texas and Quebec. Governor Abbott and the Premier also discussed the USMCA trade deal, and recent achievements in the energy and transportation sectors. This is Governor Abbott’s first time meeting with the Quebec Premier, and the meeting was part of Governor Abbott’s economic development mission to Israel and Switzerland.
“The friendship between Quebec and Texas is marked by an enduring trade partnership and shared commitment to innovation in the energy and transportation industries,” said Governor Abbott. “I enjoyed meeting with Quebec Premiere François Legault, and look forward to fostering an even stronger economic partnership with Quebec in the years to come.”
Total trade between Texas and Quebec in 2018 was almost $8.9 billion, representing approximately 20% of all Texas trade with Canada. Texas exports to Quebec account for approximately 27% of all Texas exports to Canada, equating to almost $6 billion and include the exports of goods in the transportation and energy sectors. Texas imports from Quebec account for almost 14% of all Texas imports from Canada, equating to $2.9 billion.
Quebec Premier François Legault is a Canadian politician and businessman serving as the 32nd and current premier of Quebec since 2018. He has been Leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec party since its foundation in 2011 and cabinet ministers during the premier of Lucien Bouchard and Benard Landry. Prior to becoming a politician, he was the co-founder of the Canadian airline Air Transat. Legault was a member of the National Assembly of Quebec from 1998 to 2009, serving in the government of Quebec as Minister of Education from 1998 to 2002 and as Minister of Health from 2002 to 2003. As a member of the Parti Québécois, he was first elected in the 1998 Quebec election in the riding of Rousseau in the Lanaudière region. He was re-elected in 2003, 2007 and 2008 but resigned his seat on June 25, 2009. He returned to the legislature at the 2012 Quebec provincial election as the MNA for L’Assomption, a suburb of Montreal. He was reelected in the 2014 election and won 2018 election. The Quebec Premier is the head of government of the Canadian providence of Quebec.