Trump bans imports of most Canadian alcoholic beverages into the US

US President Donald Trump signed an executive order banning the import of most categories of packaged Canadian alcoholic beverages into the country as of September 29, according to a document published by the White House.

“I determine that it is in the public interest to exclude certain alcoholic beverages from Canada from importation into the United States,” the order reads.

As follows from the document, the decision was made against the background of an escalation of the ongoing trade dispute between the countries after Ottawa refused to lift restrictions on the sale of American drinks, and the Canadian province of Saskatchewan announced a retaliatory 50% levy. As a result, the White House replaced the previously introduced 50% tariff with an outright import ban.

According to the appendix to the decree, the new restrictions apply mainly to finished products in consumer packaging, packaged in bottles, cans and kegs. The ban also included packaged malt beer, apple cider, fruit wines, including plum wine and sake, as well as still and sparkling grape wines in retail packaging, vermouth and Marsala.

In the spirits category, the embargo affected Canadian rye whiskey, bourbon, vodka, gin, rum, brandy, tequila, liqueurs, bitters and packaged drinking ethyl alcohol.

At the same time, the ban does not affect bulk raw materials imported in large tanks for bottling into the United States. A 50% duty remains the same.

Trump's order came just hours after Canadian retaliatory tariffs on US goods totaling about $20 billion came into force after trade negotiations between the countries broke down.