Alcohol becomes flashpoint as US and Canada trade tariffs bite
President Donald Trump’s 25% tariffs on Canadian products prompted Canada to levy matching 25% duties and to block American alcohol at the provincial level, removing US spirits from many stores. The United States then introduced a 50% tariff on Canadian spirits, wine and beer after negotiations stalled. Imports of US alcohol to Canada fell 81%, and Brown‑Forman reported a near‑60% plunge in its Canadian sales, while Canadian makers, who send 93% of their spirits to the United States, now face the new tariff despite limited domestic sales gains. Trade talks between trade minister Dominic LeBlanc and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are continuing up to the deadline, with both sides saying they are losing.
How this was covered
- Left-leaning outlets covered this 163h later
Why it matters
The tariffs are sharply reducing the availability of popular alcoholic beverages and hurting major producers on both sides of the border.
How this story developed
- Aug 11 Canadian trade minister meets U.S. counterpart again as tariff deadline looms
- Aug 25 Canada is preparing a counter‑tariff schedule to be unveiled in early September.
- Aug 25 Canada announced counter-tariffs of up to 50% on roughly $27.6 billion of American goods, raising duties on items such as dairy, cosmetics and steel.
- Aug 25 Republican lawmakers have publicly criticized Trump’s tariffs and the proposed tariff‑free meat imports.
- Aug 25 Canada announced retaliatory tariffs to begin on Sept 8.
- Aug 25 Canada added a C$7.5 billion financing package to help firms and workers cope with the new tariffs.
- Aug 25 Canada announced it will impose counter‑tariffs in early September.
- Aug 25 Ford said Canada could consider using electricity, critical minerals and fuel as leverage.
- Aug 26 White House official said the Trump administration is weighing extra trade sanctions in response to Canada’s counter‑tariffs.
- Aug 26 President Trump posted a proposal to rename Lake Ontario.
- Aug 26 President Trump said U.S. tariffs on Canadian automobiles will double next year.
- Aug 26 Canada announced retaliatory duties of up to 50% on hundreds of U.S. products to start on Sept 8.
- Aug 26 Retailers have begun removing U.S. wines and spirits from shelves as part of the boycott campaign.
- Aug 27 The United States added a 50% tariff on Canadian spirits, wine and beer.
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