Ontario Premier Doug Ford is holding his ground in the ongoing trade dispute with the United States, delivering a strong message after American lawmakers introduced legislation targeting Canadian alcohol restrictions. The premier made it clear that Ontario will not reverse course on its boycott of American alcoholic beverages until Washington removes what he calls illegal tariffs on Canadian goods.
The tension escalated this week when Republican Congresswoman Claudia Tenney unveiled the CANADA Act, a piece of legislation designed to investigate and challenge how Canadian provincial liquor boards handle American alcohol imports. If passed, the law would require the US Trade Representative to examine these restrictions within 30 days, potentially opening a new front in the bilateral trade conflict.
The dispute traces back to March 2025, when Ontario removed American alcohol products from its liquor store shelves in response to tariffs imposed by the Trump administration. Before the ban took effect, the province was importing nearly one billion dollars worth of American alcoholic beverages annually. According to government figures, approximately two million dollars worth of US products have already expired or will spoil in the coming months, including beer, ready-to-drink cocktails, and wine.
Eight Canadian provinces have implemented similar restrictions on American alcohol as a countermeasure to US trade policies. During recent meetings with American officials in Washington, Ford indicated that he would welcome US beverages back to Ontario stores once a renewed trade agreement under CUSMA is finalized. Meanwhile, California lawmakers have been pressuring Quebec to restore American wine sales, citing losses of over 400 million dollars in market access and reduced consumer choice in the province.
