7 in 10 Canadians Say Keep U.S. Alcohol Off Our Retail Shelves

If President Trump is hoping higher tariffs will lead Canadians to pressure their government to cave into his latest trade demands, they are sadly mistaken.

That may not be bad news for the Trump Administration – the President himself seems not to care how his actions affect ordinary Americans – but it's certainly bad news for the American beer, wine and spirits industries which would very much like those tariffs removed.

In response to President Trump's imposition of 50% tariffs on certain Canadian products, 69% of Canadians living in British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, and Atlantic Canada say their provincial government should keep the restrictions on American alcohol in place, according to a poll by Abacus Data. Abacus is a leading Canadian polling organization.

Only 19% want American products returned to store shelves, while 11% are unsure. That support remains strong even when respondents are told the restrictions could provoke further U.S. retaliation.

Support extends across every region included in the survey. It is highest in British Columbia at 72%, followed by Ontario and Atlantic Canada at 69%, and Manitoba at 63%.

Over 1 in 2 believe American alcohol should remain off Canadian shelvess until the U.S. removes Trump's tariffs on Canada.

This helps explain why the alcohol restrictions remain politically durable. Most residents do not appear to see them as symbolic gestures that should be abandoned under pressure. Instead, many view them as leverage that should remain in place until the underlying trade dispute is resolved.

The appetite to stand firm extends beyond alcohol. Sixty-three percent say Canada should resist U.S. pressure even if doing so creates economic costs for Canadians. Twenty-seven percent prefer de-escalation, even if that means dropping countermeasures such as the alcohol restrictions.

Age matters more than region. Support rises from 60% among those aged 30 to 44 to 78% among people aged 60 and over.

The political differences are substantial. More than eight in ten Liberal and NDP voters support keeping the restrictions, at 83% and 84% respectively. Conservative voters are more divided, but a majority, 53%, still wants the restrictions maintained. One third would lift them.