(NewsNation) — Following President Donald Trump’s decision to impose 25% tariffs on Canadian imports, Canada has retaliated with its own trade policies, including removing American-made liquor from shelves.
The move could be a big blow to the U.S., with exports from the top liquor-producing states taking in nearly $3 billion annually.
In Ontario, Premier Doug Ford ordered the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) to take American products off its shelves and remove them from its catalog so retailers and restaurants wouldn’t be able to order them. The LCBO lists more than 3,600 products from 35 U.S. states in its catalog.
Nova Scotia also ordered all U.S. alcohol removed from store shelves, as did Manitoba, Newfoundland and Labrador. Quebec also ordered the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) to remove all American products from store shelves and online ordering. SAQ will also stop supplying American-made alcohol to grocery stores, bars and restaurants.
At least one province went for a narrower approach, targeting specific states governed by leaders who align with Trump.
In British Columbia, Premier David Eby ordered government-run liquor stores to pull alcohol brands made from red states or those run by Republican governors.
U.S.-made wine, beer and whiskey all bring in significant revenue for the U.S. California alone accounts for more than $1 billion in exported wine. Tennessee tops the list for whiskey, exporting more than $914 million, and Georgia leads the way for beer with more than $99 million in exports.
The states that would take the biggest hit include Tennessee, Kentucky, Florida, Texas, Illinois, California, New York, Washington, Georgia, Virginia and New Jersey.
In addition to the loss of income, the alcohol industry is also a large employer. More than 400,000 people are employed in the wine industry in California alone.