Multiple Canadian provinces stop sale of American alcohol amid tariffs
Multiple Canadian provinces have announced they are pulling American alcohol from store shelves in response to tariffs rolled out by President Donald Trump.
Leaders in Ontario, Manitoba and Nova Scotia ordered distributors to stop selling American alcohol products as the country deals with Trump’s 25% tariff on Canadian goods, which hopes will decrease the amount of fentanyl and migrants coming into the U.S.
On Sunday, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew announced the province will no longer sell American booze starting Tuesday, Feb. 4.
“Trump’s tariff tax is an attack on Canadians,” Kinew said, per the release. “We support the federal response to these tariffs, and here in Manitoba, we’re stopping the sale of American products at Manitoba liquor marts.”
Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries (MBLL), a corporation owned by the government, was told to stop ordering alcoholic products from the U.S. and pull American products off the shelves of liquor stores, according to a press release published by the province.
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“How you choose to spend your money is one of the most important decisions you as a consumer can make,” Kinew said. “There are plenty of great Manitoba breweries and distilleries to support instead.”
Ontario, Nova Scotia curb sale of American alcohol
Ontario Premier Doug Ford also called for American alcohol to be pulled off the shelves of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario, LCBO, on Tuesday. LCBO is the only alcohol wholesaler in Canada’s most populous province, as reported by Reuters.
“Every year, LCBO sells nearly $1 billion worth of American wine, beer, spirits and seltzers,” Ford wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter. “Not anymore.”
LCBO will also pull American products from its catalog so restaurants and retailers based in Ontario can’t restock on products from the U.S., according to Ford.
“There’s never been a better time to choose an amazing Ontario-made or Canadian-made product,” he wrote on X.
In Nova Scotia, Premier Tim Houston ordered Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation to pull U.S. alcohol from shelves beginning Tuesday, CBC reported.
Boycotts on American goods
Kinew’s announcement comes after Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced retaliatory tariffs on $107 billion worth of U.S. goods, according to Reuters.
The prime minister and other local officials also encouraged Canadians to take vacations in Canada and to buy local.
Contributing: Reuters
Julia is a trending reporter for USA TODAY. You can connect with her on LinkedIn, follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, Instagram and TikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com
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