Several Canadian provinces are pulling U.S. alcoholic products from their shelves as part of a broad national retaliation against tariffs on imports from that country imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.
“This is a huge blow to American producers,” said Ontario Premier Doug Ford when announcing his provincial government’s measures, similar to those implemented by Quebec and Manitoba.
Meanwhile, British Columbia announced it will stop purchasing alcohol from “red states”, aligned with Trump’s Republican Party.
In Canada, the sale of alcoholic beverages is managed by public companies controlled by the provinces.
The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) is “the world’s largest alcohol buyer,” Ford emphasized Tuesday during a press conference.
“Since American brands will no longer be available in the LCBO’s catalog—the exclusive wholesaler—other retailers, bars, and restaurants in the province will not be able to restock U.S. products,” he explained.
The Quebec government also ordered “a halt to the supply of American alcoholic beverages in grocery stores, agencies, bars, and restaurants,” according to a statement.
On the website of the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ), the measure had already been implemented by midday Tuesday. Next to U.S. products, the following notice appeared: “Due to new tariff regulations between Canada and the United States, this product is no longer for sale.”
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