Full Breakdown
Ontario Premier Rejects U.S. “CANADA Act” Proposal Amid Renewed Alcohol Trade Dispute
7/10/2026, 4:23:34 PM
Trade Background and Recent Restrictions
In March 2025, Ontario removed all U.S.-origin alcoholic beverages from provincial liquor stores, a retaliation linked to tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump. The province had previously imported roughly $965 million worth of U.S. alcohol, leaving an estimated $2 million of products at risk of expiration. Eight Canadian provinces have since maintained bans or limits on U.S. alcohol, a policy that U.S. officials say harms American producers and curtails market access.
Official Statements from Government Leaders
Republican Congresswoman Claudia Tenney introduced the “Combating Attacks on our National Alcoholic Drinks by Allies (CANADA) Act,” which would direct U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to investigate provincial liquor-board restrictions under Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act. Ontario Premier Doug Ford responded on X, asserting that the province will not yield to U.S. pressure and emphasizing that “U.S. tariffs are threatening the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of Canadian workers.” Ford added that the removal of U.S. alcohol will be reversed once the Canada-U.S-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) is renewed, a goal he reiterated during a June 9 meeting with U.S. officials in Washington, D.C.
Opposition from U.S. Lawmakers and Quebec Representatives
U.S. Representatives Jimmy Panetta, Mike Thompson, and David G. Valadao sent a letter urging Quebec Premier Christine Fréchette to restore American wine to provincial shelves, arguing that the restriction “has had damaging consequences for regional consumers, businesses, and producers who had no influence over national policies.” The letter cited a $434 million market loss for Quebec consumers and called for renewed dialogue to resolve the trade impasse.
Verbatim Quotes
- “we won’t back down.” — Doug Ford, Ontario Premier
- “We won’t back down. The fastest and only way to get U.S. alcohol back on Ontario shelves is for the U.S. to drop its illegal tariffs on Canada,” — Doug Ford, Ontario Premier
- “Nearly all of Canada’s provincial liquor boards have prohibited or restricted the importation and distribution of American alcoholic beverages, harming U.S. producers and limiting their access to an important export market,” — Press release, U.S. officials
- “I just want to get this deal done,” — Doug Ford, Ontario Premier
- “Story continues below advertisement “Reopening the market to American wine would restore consumer choice and signal a commitment to restoring fair and balanced trade for Québecois consumers and American wineries who have no connection to the underlying trade disputes.” — Letter signed by Jimmy Panetta, Mike Thompson and David G. Valadao
The dispute remains tied to the pending CUSMA renewal, with both sides signaling that the outcome will determine whether U.S. alcohol returns to Ontario and Quebec shelves.
