WARMINGTON: Want American wine or bourbon? Stock up before Tuesday
Premier Doug Ford said all American alcohol products will be removed from LCBO shelves Tuesday in response to American tariffs
Article content
No more Jack Daniel’s or Jim Beam. No more Chateau Montelena or Diamond Creek.
If you like American wine, bourbon or beer, time for stocking up is slipping away because Ontario liquor stores will no longer be selling them as of Tuesday.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
WARMINGTON: Want American wine or bourbon? Stock up before Tuesday Back to video
tap here to see other videos from our team.
“Every year, LCBO sells nearly $1 billion worth of American wine, beer, spirits and seltzers,” said Premier Doug Ford in an X post Sunday. “Not anymore.”
Following American President Donald Trump’s declaration that Canada will be hit with a 25% tariff on its goods shipped to the United States, starting Tuesday, this trade war is about to heat up.
“Starting Tuesday, we’re removing American products from LCBO shelves,” warned Ford. “As the only wholesaler of alcohol in the province, LCBO will also remove American products from its catalogue so other Ontario-based restaurants and retailers can’t order or restock U.S. products.”
It’s a major development since the Trump administration has already threatened that if Canada retaliates, the U.S. may up those tariffs to 50%.
Recommended video
tap here to see other videos from our team.
And the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S. has warned that this could end up meaning popular Canadian products sold in the United States could be banned from their shelves.
This means everybody will feel this hangover announced on Groundhog Day.
“We are deeply concerned that U.S. tariffs on imported spirits from Canada and Mexico will significantly harm all three countries and lead to a cycle of retaliatory tariffs that negatively impacts our shared industry,” said a joint statement issued by the Distilled Spirits Council of the U.S., the Chamber of the Tequila Industry, and Spirits Canada on Tariffs on Imports from Canada and Mexico.
“Maintaining fair and reciprocal duty-free access for all distilled spirits is crucial for supporting jobs and shared growth across North America. Our industries have thrived due to the level playing field established across our borders.”
It’s going to be interesting to see how they sort this out, since brands like Canadian Club have American ownership. The rye whiskey is produced by Suntory Global Spirits, an American and Japanese company that also distills Jim Beam and Knob Creek bourbons.
What a mess this is.
And what a crisis this will be for Canada’s economy, as investors will keep their eye on the dollar and stock market when trading resumes Monday.
Meanwhile, the leaders of the fight at this point are Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who has announced he will leave office next month while the Liberals select his replacement and Ford, who is in the middle of an election campaign.
They are up against Trump, who has been in office less than two weeks since his inauguration. LCBO staff told The Toronto Sun that clearing American products from shelves will be a big job.
“We have a lot of American labels,” said one staffer.
If it’s a bourbon or California wine you fancy, the clock is ticking. Ford said they will all be off the shelves Tuesday.
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.