Minister Sidhu and France’s Minister Forissier discuss Canada-France trade priorities

On September 30, 2026, the Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade, met with Nicolas Forissier, France’s Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, while attending the G20 Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

October 2, 2026 - Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Global Affairs Canada 

On September 30, 2026, the Honourable Maninder Sidhu, Minister of International Trade, met with Nicolas Forissier, France’s Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade and Economic Attractiveness, while attending the G20 Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

The two ministers discussed Canada and France’s already strong trade relationship, with Canadian merchandise exports to France up 53% higher in the first seven months of 2026, compared to the same period last year. They explored opportunities to expand Canada-France cooperation in strategic areas such as critical minerals, energy, and aerospace. Moreover, they discussed ways to strengthen commercial and investment ties, including through future trade missions.

Minister Sidhu also discussed the Canada Investment Summit, held last month in Toronto, Ontario, and underscored opportunities for greater investment cooperation between Canada and France.

Minister Sidhu pointed to this month’s upcoming Canada-EU Summit in Montréal, Quebec, as an important opportunity to strengthen economic cooperation. Minister Sidhu highlighted that France, as Canada’s third-largest merchandise export market in the European Union and second-largest European investor in Canada[GD1] , is playing an important role in deepening engagement on both sides of the Atlantic.