Trump Bans Imports of Canadian Alcohol

President Trump banned the import of Canadian beerk wine, cider, whiskies, vodka and other spirits, effective Sept. 29.

In a presidential proclamation, Trump said the action was in response to Canadian provinces "banning the purchase, distribution, or retailing of U.S. alcoholic beverages while not banning or similarly restricting such products from other countries.

"This discrimination places the commerce of the United States at a disadvantage compared to the commerce of other countries; and that Canada’s imposition is unreasonable, is not equally enforced upon the like articles of every foreign country, and places a burden on the commerce of the United States," he said.

In a statement, Chris Swonger, president/CEO, Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S., urged "leaders on both sides of the border to reach a negotiated solution that restores U.S. spirits to retail shelves throughout Canada and returns the spirits sector to a permanent zero-for-zero tariff framework."

Canadian provinces' removal of U.S. spirits from store shelves caused U.S. spirits exports to Canada to fall by more than 70%, he added.