Quebec delegate urges Vermont to reaffirm cross-border ties as tariffs and tourism decline

Rainey Sylvester, Quebec's delegate to New England, told the Vermont House Committee on Commerce & Economic Development on Feb. 12 that Quebec and Vermont remain closely linked economically but face near-term risks from proposed U.S. tariffs and a recent decline in Canadian travel.

Sylvester said his Boston office of about 10 staff works to "build bridges between Quebec and the six New England states" across trade, innovation, research and public policy cooperation. He told the committee that "in 2024, trade between Quebec and Vermont reached approximately 2,300,000,000 US dollars," a level he used to illustrate the regions' economic integration.

"Tariffs on Canadian products are driving up construction costs across the United States," Sylvester said, citing analysis from the Yale Business Data Lab that "tariffs have already increased the cost of building a home in United States for approximately 6,000 US dollars." He warned that proposed tariffs could raise the cost of important construction materials by "at least 3 to 4,000,000,000 US dollars annually," and said such measures operate "like a tax on regional groups."

Sylvester also highlighted tourism: he said Canadians are the largest source of foreign visitors to the United States and that Canadian travel to the U.S. declined by nearly 30% in 2025. He said the decline is visible in Vermont border communities and industries that depend on cross-border customers. "These numbers reflect the real economic pressures," he said, noting local businesses such as restaurants and recreation operators have been affected.

To counter the downturn, Sylvester recommended subnational action to keep channels open and reassure travelers and investors. He described local promotions and targeted offers as practical measures "we have seen" on both sides of the border and urged continued communication between state and provincial counterparts. He also said Quebec provincial police have compared notes with Vermont officials to examine border safety and operational questions.

On industry collaboration, Sylvester pointed to a recent agreement to advance a Northeast semiconductor manufacturing corridor and to ongoing trade missions. Committee members discussed possible university partnerships, including outreach to the University of Sherbrooke and GlobalFoundries on chip-process collaboration with the University of Vermont. Sylvester said Quebec would continue to publicize relevant events and support business-to-business meetings between Vermont and Quebec companies.

Sylvester suggested the committee consider drafting a resolution reaffirming Vermont's long-standing partnership with Quebec to signal stability amid federal policy uncertainty. He offered to share examples of resolutions passed elsewhere and noted Quebec's National Assembly might act before its scheduled October election.

The committee thanked Sylvester and signaled interest in working with him on a draft resolution; no formal motion or vote was recorded. The committee moved on to the next agenda item, the Department of Financial Regulation budget, scheduled for 10 a.m.