Below is a statement from Chris Swonger, President and CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States regarding President Trump’s Presidential Proclamation Imposing a 50% tariff on spirits from Canada August 19:
“For nearly a year and a half, American spirits have been pulled from store shelves across much of Canada as collateral damage in a broader trade dispute unrelated to our sector, and we appreciate the Administration’s recognition of the significant damage these restrictions have caused U.S. distillers. We had hoped, however, that this issue could be resolved without further escalation. Imposing a 50% tariff on imported spirits from Canada deepens trade tensions and raises the risk of further retaliation at a time when many U.S. hospitality businesses continue to face financial hardships. We encourage policymakers on both sides of the border to pursue a negotiated solution that restores market access for U.S. spirits and avoids further harm to the U.S. hospitality sector.”
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Background:
- Canadian provinces’ removed U.S. spirits from retail shelves in March 2025 in retaliation to U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods.
- Exports to Canada fell more than 70% year-over-year from the start of the retaliatory ban in March 2025 through December 2025.
- Alberta and Saskatchewan are the only two provinces that have since lifted their bans.
