Madam Chair, as this is my first time rising for a speech in this House, I would like to take a moment to thank my incredible team of volunteers, my family and, of course, the residents of Brampton East for their support and for putting their trust in me to serve them here in Ottawa. I would also like to take a moment to congratulate all members of this House on their recent election wins. I look forward to working across party lines as we support Canadians from coast to coast to coast.
Prior to politics, I spent 13 years facilitating international trade with businesses across Canada, and I have seen first-hand the impacts that international trade can have on jobs in communities across Canada. The four years I have spent at Global Affairs Canada have strengthened my relationships with international partners as I take on this new role as Canada's Minister of International Trade. It was truly the honour of a lifetime to be appointed to this new role a few weeks back, and I am grateful to the Prime Minister for his trust in me in this vital role, especially at a time of great uncertainty in global trade.
First and foremost, I want to assure members of the House that this new government stands ready to defend Canada's interests. We will do what is best for Canadians and we will do what is best for the Canadian economy. That means supporting businesses and jobs here in Canada across various sectors as they expand into new markets around the world. We have what the world needs.
This commitment extends to Canada's international trade agenda. Canada is very fortunate to have 15 trade agreements with over 50 countries around the world, giving us access to over 1.5 billion consumers.
The new government will take a bold and ambitious approach to meet the needs of the moment, while remaining clear-eyed about our objectives for resilient growth. Establishing a new economic relationship with the United States is a priority. The United States is Canada's top export market, and Canada is a top destination for U.S. exports. A renewed framework for strong trade and commercial partnership is vital to prosperity on both sides of the border, and I look forward to supporting my colleague Minister LeBlanc as he advances discussions on this with our American counterparts.