Premier Doug Ford says he won’t tell the LCBO to put American alcohol back on the shelves, after the White House explicitly cited Ontario’s alcohol ban as a trade irritant behind increased tariffs.
On Monday night, U.S. President Donald Trump unveiled a fresh threat to impose 50 per cent tariffs on most Canadian goods.
The announcement pointed specifically to Ontario’s decision to remove all United States alcohol from store shelves last year in response to Trump’s initial tariffs.
“Beginning in March 2025, all Canadian provinces and territories halted the purchase, distribution, or retailing of U.S. alcoholic beverages,” the White House wrote on Monday.
“For example, on March 4, 2025, the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) ceased purchasing all U.S. products and canceled existing orders where contractually possible; removed all U.S. products from wholesale product catalogues and retail eCommerce sites; and removed all U.S. products from LCBO retail stores and outlets.”
Ford, however, said he wouldn’t be swayed on alcohol.
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“We have to negotiate through strength, not weakness,” Ford said. “We need to throw everything on the table.”
Ford said he felt Ontario had led Canada’s tariff response, citing the booze ban and a short-lived, forty-eight-hour electricity surcharge.
Ontario’s ban on American alcohol dates back to the first wave of tariffs from the United States.
The morning after tariffs came into effect, the Ford government unveiled a ban on selling American alcohol at the LCBO, cancelled a contract for Elon Musk’s Starlink internet and moved to make it harder for U.S. companies to bid on government contracts.
At the time, the government said Ontario imports $965 million worth of booze annually and had 3,600 American products from 36 states on its shelves.
Because the LCBO is also the only place bars or restaurants can buy their stock, the ban effectively removed American alcohol from those locations as well.
A brief surcharge on Ontario electricity exported to New York, Michigan and Minnesota angered Trump and was promptly walked back. Meanwhile, the Starlink deal was cancelled — but with a penalty paid to Musk’s company.
The ban on American booze remained in place for the rest of 2025 and into the new year. It is credited by the LCBO for a boost in Ontario wine sales and is a move Ford has said he won’t stand down until tariffs are removed.
“We need to stand up to the bully and we need to hit him tariff-to-tariff, all the way across the board,” Ford added.
Trump said the tariff threat would be realized on Canadian products within 30 days.
I call for his immediate removal from office.
This is stupidity and I am done paying for limp dicked politicians egos.
How about, try solving the the main problems like your liberal party agenda against states and immigration and taxes no way im voting for you again
How much alcohol does Canada ship to the USA? What happens if Trump takes the same stand and bans all cdn booze?
For clarity Dee. Slap a export duty on our electricity that we sell to them.
Also put one on the oil and gas we sell to them. – it might hurt us a bit, but they are still paying under $1.00/litre for gasoline at the pumps. Time they paid fair value for our oil and gas.
Instead of storing US booze, sell off what’s in stock and don’t replace it.
I’m not buying ANY American products regardless of whether more tariffs are coming or not. Trump cannot force the people to buy American products. So he can bully stores and bars etc. but I am still NOT buying American products.
Dee is 100% RIGHT!!!!!!
Good. Now go back and slap a surcharge on their electricity like you did the 1st time they ended up putting a tariff on steel and aluminum 50% . anyways. No more concessions, no more caving.
Dave you an idiot
“Elbows up”
Seriously. Canada’s leadership is an embarrassment.
Childish policy but then all of Canada’s responses to Trump have been