Constructing Trade

This discourse analysis examines the trade policy interests of the province of Quebec during the CETA negotiations between Canada and the EU (2006–2014). The negotiation of the agreement’s chapters ‘Public Procurement’, ‘Foreign Direct Investment’ and ‘Agriculture’ from Quebec’s perspective documents that the provincial government drew upon existing repertoires of ideas in order to develop Quebec’s interests in a complex transatlantic setting and advance them skilfully. Canadian federalism as well as economic, political and cultural development discourses provided the framework for interpreting current and historical events, and for forging alliances to assert the province’s position. This study is based on the systematic quantitative analysis of parliamentary debates in Quebec and the qualitative evaluation of structured interviews with members of government, civil servants, business associations and NGOs.