{"id":622842,"date":"2026-04-23T07:54:14","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T07:54:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/622842\/"},"modified":"2026-04-23T07:54:14","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T07:54:14","slug":"doug-ford-wont-allow-u-s-alcohol-at-lcbo-until-tariffs-lifted","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/622842\/","title":{"rendered":"Doug Ford won\u2019t allow U.S. alcohol at LCBO until tariffs lifted"},"content":{"rendered":"

Premier Doug Ford said Wednesday he has no intention of putting U.S. liquor back on LCBO store shelves until there is a new trade deal in place between Canada and the United States. <\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d do it in a heartbeat, folks,\u201d Ford said in a fireside chat at an event arranged by The Globe and Mail Wednesday. <\/p>\n

\u201cBut when he (U.S. President Donald Trump) is destroying our auto sector, putting in jeopardy tens of thousands of jobs\u2026 going after our steel sector, our aluminum sector, our lumber sector, our dairy sector, and he expects us to sit back and roll over? You never roll over to a bully. You confront him head on. One of our tools is alcohol.\u201d<\/p>\n

The LCBO is one of the largest purchasers of alcohol in the world. It was just over a year ago that Ford banished all U.S.-made alcohol products from LCBO shelves<\/a> as Trump ramped up his attacks on Canada\u2019s economy. <\/p>\n

\"\"Doug Ford Ontario Premier Doug Ford speaks at an event in downtown Toronto Wednesday April 22, 2026. <\/p>\n

The ban has continued, with the province instead playing up locally-made products. <\/p>\n

Meanwhile, as the Canada-U.S.-Mexico deal comes up for renewal, the U.S. has cited the alcohol ban as a trade irritant with Canada. <\/p>\n

\u201cOnce we get the deal done, which I\u2019m confident eventually we\u2019ll get it done, then we\u2019ll bring back maybe California red wine. You can sit down and have a glass of wine,\u201d Ford said<\/p>\n

On Wednesday U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer<\/a> told a U.S. House Ways and Means Committee hearing that the U.S. administration is \u201ckind of at the end of our rope in just asking for them to do this (lift the ban).\u201d<\/p>\n

He said federal officials had \u201cpassed the buck\u201d to the provinces on the matter. <\/p>\n

\u201cMy sense is there may have to be an enforcement action to deal with this issue on wine and spirits in Canada,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n

\"\"Election 2026 Michigan U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer speaks with reporters during a tour of the Atomic Industries’ manufacturing facility Thursday, April 9, 2026, in Warren, Mich. (AP Photo\/Julia Demaree Nikhinson) <\/p>\n

But Ford said Wednesday he has no plans to lift the ban without a clear deal in place. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to wait until USMCA is renewed. I just, I\u2019m sorry folks, I don\u2019t trust President Trump,\u201d Ford said. <\/p>\n

He recalled that U.S. Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick last year promised to lift U.S. steel tariffs if Ford removed a retaliatory electricity surcharge<\/a> on three U.S. states, only to reverse course later. <\/p>\n

\u201cI get rid of the surcharge and what do they do? They double up on us. So, you know, I just, I do not trust them whatsoever,\u201d Ford said. <\/p>\n

While Ford still maintained a good relationship with Lutnick, who he has often praised as a \u201csmart businessman,\u201d he said his impression is that the U.S. commerce secretary has \u201ckind of been moved to the side a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n

He added \u201che\u2019s a smart business person, but he\u2019s not directly deep involved; It\u2019s Greer that\u2019s driving the deal.\u201d<\/p>\n

I want to be clear: American alcohol will only go back on shelves when the U.S. removes its tariffs.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Doug Ford (@fordnation) April 22, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The premier later repeated his comment in a post on X,<\/a> saying \u201cAmerican alcohol will only go back on shelves when the U.S. removes its tariffs.\u201d<\/p>\n

With files from CTV News <\/p>\n