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6h ago

Provinces Keep U.S. Alcohol Off Shelves as Ottawa Lifts Tariffs

Provincial control over liquor retail leaves shelves closed to many U.S. brands despite Ottawa’s tariff rollback.

Non-American whiskeys on display at a Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), the government-run liquor stores where most wine and spirits in the province are purchased, Sunday, March 9, 2025, in Toronto.
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Overview

  • Ontario Premier Doug Ford says the LCBO ban on American alcohol will stay until President Donald Trump removes tariffs on Canadian goods or a new trade deal is reached.
  • Quebec’s liquor board was told by Finance Minister Eric Girard to donate expiring U.S. stock to charity, while Ontario says it has no plans to destroy inventory.
  • The federal government will remove retaliatory duties on USMCA‑covered alcohol effective September 1, yet provincial moratoriums remain in place and relisting is not automatic.
  • The Distilled Spirits Council welcomed Ottawa’s move but urged provinces to relist, citing roughly a 62% year‑over‑year drop in U.S. spirits exports to Canada in the first half of 2025.
  • Canada is keeping counter‑tariffs on steel, aluminum and automobiles, with steel and aluminum rates holding at 25%.