Trump bans select Canadian imports in widening trade fight
President Donald Trump announced a ban on some Canadian goods, citing Canada’s tariffs on U.S. goods and restrictions on American companies.
Amid the heightened trade war between the United States and Canada, one alcoholic staple from America’s northern neighbor seems to have been spared from the recent ban on Canadian drinks issued by President Donald Trump.
In a Sept. 8 proclamation from the White House, Canadian-produced spirits, wine and beer are set to be banned beginning Sept. 29. However, a workaround included in the order allows Canadian whiskies to avoid the ban if they cross the border in a container larger than one gallon.
Whisky giant Crown Royal is doing just that.
Crown Royal, which is distilled and matured in Manitoba, Canada, is shipped in large containers to bottling facilities in the United States for sale on this side of the border, MarketWatch reported.
Crown Royal’s parent company, Diageo, also increased its footprint in the United States, officially opening a new facility in Montgomery, Alabama, which it said would bring “the company’s iconic beverage alcohol brands closer to customers” across the Southern U.S.
“The opening of Diageo Montgomery marks an important step forward in building the agile, future‑ready supply network that our business demands. By placing this facility at the heart of the southern region, we’re not only strengthening our connection to customers, but also setting a new standard for efficient, sustainable manufacturing,” Marsha McIntosh, president of North America Supply at Diageo, said in a statement in April.
USA TODAY contacted Diageo for comment on Sept. 10, but did not receive an immediate response.
A larger and larger trade war
Trump’s proclamation on Sept. 9 came as his administration announced several upcoming bans set to take effect in three weeks, according to senior administration officials.
“I found as a fact that Canada is discriminating in fact against the commerce of the United States,” Trump wrote in a series of proclamations on Sept. 8. “This discrimination places the commerce of the United States at a disadvantage compared to the commerce of other countries.”
Trump administration officials said the bans come in response to Canada’s move to tariff American goods, including dairy, appliances, agricultural equipment, pulp and paper, plastics and electronics.
Canada’s new tariffs went into effect on Sept. 8. Canada’s Finance Minister François-Philippe Champagne said the measures were a “dollar-for-dollar” match for the 50% tariffs Trump imposed on an estimated 5% worth of Canadian imports.
How to check which goods are affected by US tariffs on Canada
The U.S. tariffs on Canadian imports primarily impact Canada’s auto, alcohol and dairy industries. The country’s oil, natural gas and critical minerals remain exempt.
The White House’s list of goods affected by the new tariffs is 18 pages long. Products range from toys and hockey equipment to silver and cameras. Honey, flowers, golf equipment, video game consoles, gold necklaces and clothes are also included.
While consumers may buy American-made products to avoid these tariffs, those who rely on Canadian imports can expect most retailers to increase their prices over the coming months, Shikha Jain, a Simon-Kucher partner and lead of the consumer sector for North America, previously told USA TODAY.
Contributing: Michael Loria, Rachel Barber and Francesca Chambers, USA TODAY
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@usatodayco.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.