ProvPort — Waterson Terminal Services

Port infrastructure and logistics connections between Rhode Island and Canada keep the American economy moving. One of only two deep water ports in New England, ProvPort, which is operated by Waterson Terminal Services (WTS), is located at the convergence of Narragansett Bay and the Providence River, with connections to major North American railroads.

Contracts with Canadian exporters, including Quebec-based cement exporters, keep ProvPort among the busiest in the region. As New England develops offshore wind, ProvPort and WTS have coordinated closely with ports in Canada to service vessels and supply this growing clean energy industry.

This partnership means more business and trade through Rhode Island, which means more jobs and stronger economic opportunities.

The Museum of Work and Culture: A bridge across borders

The Museum of Work and Culture in Woonsocket, Rhode Island exemplifies how Canada and the United States share deep, people-to-people connections — in this case built on migration, labor, and cultural exchange—that continue to strengthen our bilateral relationship.

Its story begins with French-Canadian families who left Quebec’s farms for the textile mills of New England, carrying with them language, traditions, and hope. By 1920, they made up 70% of Woonsocket’s population, shaping its culture while forging new lives in America.

The museum transformed a former mill into an immersive tribute. Visitors walk through a recreated Quebecois farmhouse, hear voices from union halls, and feel the hum of mill machinery — experiences that honor resilience and shared heritage.

This museum is more than history; it is a living testament to Canada–U.S. friendship. It celebrates how migration and labor intertwined to create bonds of family, faith, and solidarity across borders. Today, dedicated staff and volunteers ensure these narratives endure, reminding us that our two nations’ ties are rooted in the lived experiences of ordinary people whose courage and culture continue to unite us.

Rhode Island exports $592 million in goods to Canada annually
Rhode Island exports to Canada by industry

• Agriculture: 3%
• Chemicals: 4%
• Equipment & machinery: 34%
• Minerals & metals: 49%
• Plastics & rubbers: 4%
• Other: 6%

Top Rhode Island goods exports to Canada

• Pearls, gems, precious metals & jewelry: $263 million
• Plastics & plastic articles: $23 million
• Optical, medical & precision instruments: $22 million
• Electric motors & generators: $21 million
• Inorganic chemicals: $13 million
• Toys, games, sporting & recreation equipment: $8 million
• Meat, fish & seafood preparations: $7 million
• Fish & crustaceans: $6 million
• Ceramics: $6 million
• Iron & steel tubes, pipes & sheets: $6 million

Rhode Island exports $239 million in services to Canada annually
Top Rhode Island services exports to Canada

• Travel (including for education): $94 million
• Business services: $34 million
• Charges for the use of intellectual property: $31 million
• Financial services: $31 million
• Transport: $28 million

Rhode Island imports $1.5 billion in goods from Canada annually
Rhode Island imports from Canada by industry

• Agriculture: 9%
• Energy: 55%
• Equipment & machinery: 8%
• Forest products: 3%
• Minerals & metals: 16%
• Other: 9%

Top Rhode Island goods imports from Canada

• Fuel oil: $714 million
• Pearls, gems, precious metals & jewelry: $148 million
• Petroleum coke & bitumen: $81 million
• Optical, medical & precision instruments: $74 million
• Fish & crustaceans: $52 million
• Salt, sulfur, earth & stone, lime & cement: $37 million
• Wood & semi-finished wood products: $30 million
• Meat, fish & seafood preparations: $23 million
• Animal meats: $21 million
• Plastics & plastic articles: $19 million