Canada Mulls End to Bans on U.S. Alcohol in Trade Talks with U.S.

The possible end to provincial bans on sales of U.S. alcohol is part of a package of concession Canada's federal government is considering to avoid President Trump's 50% tariffs on top of existing tariffs. The new tariffs are to take effect in about two weeks.

But there's a catch; The alcohol bans were put in place by the provincial governments and they don't have to go along.

“The provinces individually took those decisions in response to a series of tariffs that were put in place, and also threats to our sovereignty. Those measures have been supported by provincial citizens … the decision to change that, first and foremost, will be taken by the provinces themselves, each individually, and should only be taken, in my judgement, as part of an overall agreement and that’s what we will work to accomplish,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said.

“The sale of alcohol falls exclusively under the Quebec government,” a spokesperson for Quebec's finance minister said in a French statement. “It’s Quebec, and only Quebec, that will make a decision.”