Toasts Not Tariffs Coalition issues statement on Canadian import ban
Coalition urges solution to get American spirits, wine back on Canadian shelves
An import ban on certain Canadian products went into effect Sept. 29. Among the products included in the ban are certain beverage alcohol products of Canada.
The Toasts Not Tariffs Coalition, which represents farmers, vintners, distillers, distributors, retailers, restaurants, bars and hospitality workers from across the United States and continues to support efforts to promote fair and reciprocal trade for beverage alcohol products, issued the following statement:
“We appreciate the Trump administration’s commitment to encouraging Canada to reopen its market to American spirits and wine products. However, as this ban on Canadian spirits and wines takes effect today, America’s restaurants, bars, retailers and consumers are being pulled further into a trade dispute that has already taken a significant toll on U.S. wine and spirits producers.
“This new ban on Canadian alcohol products will ripple throughout the U.S. hospitality sector at a time when restaurants, bars and retailers are preparing for the busy holiday season,” the statement continues. “The best outcome remains a negotiated solution that gets American spirits and wine products back on Canadian shelves, preserves consumer choice for consumers on both sides of the border and allows U.S. and Canadian hospitality businesses to focus on growth rather than becoming collateral damage in a trade dispute beyond their control.”
The Toasts Not Tariffs Coalition, representing 59 national and state organizations across the U.S. beverage alcohol supply chain, sent a letter to President Trump on Sept. 21 urging a resolution of the U.S.-Canada beverage alcohol trade dispute.
Since the Canadian provinces removed U.S. wine and spirits products from store shelves in March 2025, U.S. producers have experienced severe export declines. U.S. spirits exports to Canada fell 70% from $232 million to $72 million, while U.S. wine exports to Canada declined by 87%, dropping from $456 million to just $60 million, the coalition shared.
Alberta and Saskatchewan are the only two provinces that have since lifted their bans. Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe announced a 50% tax on American alcohol effective Sept. 8, 2026, the coalition added.
In 2025, the United States accounted for 93% of total Canadian spirits exports, the coalition shared.
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