Goodbye Jack Daniels: American wines, beers and spirits disappear from Canadian stores
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged Canadians to “choose Canada” in response to the 25% tariffs. Supermarkets and liquor stores are taking US brands off their shelves in response to Trump’s decision.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has urged the public need to “check labels and choose Canada whenever possible” when shopping, in response to the 25% tariffs on imported goods from Canada and Mexico announced by US President Donald Trump.
“Now is the time to choose products made right here in Canada. Check the labels. Let’s do our part. Whenever we can, choose Canada,” Trudeau posted in a message on his X account.
It’s happening. Good bye @JackDaniels_US — being removed from @LCBO as we speak @realDonaldTrump pic.twitter.com/7Vw9HICX7y
— Joe Warmington (@joe_warmington) March 4, 2025
Trump’s import tax war
Trudeau’s remarks come in response to the escalating tariff war initiated by Trump, who has imposed tariffs on the United States' three main trading partners: Canada, Mexico and China.
Both Canada and Mexico have already announced reciprocal measures to tax American products in retaliation for Trump’s decision, which will took effect on March 5.
The early effects of the burgeoning trade war are already becoming visible: American wines, beers and spirits are disappearing from shelves in Canadian stores.
“As part of Ontario’s response strategy to U.S. tariffs, the government of Ontario has directed LCBO to take operational steps to implement restrictions on all U.S. beverage alcohol sales and related imports into Ontario, effective immediately,” the Liquor Control Board of Ontario explained in a statement Tuesday.
The move is significant: LCBO, one of the world’s largest individual buyers of alcoholic products, sells American alcoholic beverages worth 1 billion Canadian dollars (approximately $680 million) annually.
BREAKING- American liquor, much of it produced in Red States, has been ordered to be taken off the shelves across Ontario. The liquor has been replaced with a sign that reads Buy Canadian Instead!
— Lovable Liberal and his Old English sheepdog (@DougWahl1) March 5, 2025
Your thoughts? pic.twitter.com/R7HWpD18ru
BC targets “red state”-produced beverages
British Columbia meanwhile has taken a similar, though slightly more nuanced, approach: the provincial monopoly will stop selling beverages produced in the so-called “US red states” - those under the control of Trump’s Republican Party. For example Jack Daniels whiskey, Bacardi rum, Titos Vodka, Jim Beam and Bulleit bourbon.
This decision is being echoed across the country: Quebec, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador have also ordered their liquor stores to remove American products from store which are now adorned with signs reading “Buy Canadian Instead”.
“They only have President Trump to blame,” Ontario Premier Doug Ford said. “We have no choice. We have to respond.”
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