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US exports of liquor and wine to Canada have plummeted by over 60 % in the first half of the year as Canadians snub American booze because of President Trump’s trade war.
The New York Post reports that shipments of US-made whiskeys, rums, gins, and other liquors through June to Canada was around $43.4 million according to the Distilled Spirits Council. That is a 62% drop from the approximate $114 million during the same period last year.
Wine exports dropped by 67% based on federal trade statistics provided by the US trade group. The data was initially reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Canadian provinces have replaced American brands with local alternatives after Trump slapped a 25% tariff on US imports. Mr. Trump further infuriated Canadians by openly musing about making the country the 51st American state.
A digital magazine, The Whiskey Explorer recently held a tasting, the only options offered were from Canada, Ireland or Scotland because drinkers refused to sample US-made brands.
Mike Brisebois, a self-styled ambassador of Canadian whiskey said, “The general theme was that they were boycotting the US.”
Ontario’s Liquor Control Board, which operates 688 retail locations across the province previously sold over $700 million in American spirits and wine annually. However, the sales have now completely disappeared.
California wineries have been especially affected by the restrictions. The Wine Institute, representing California wine producers, calculates that American wineries have lost over $173 million in export revenue during the six-month period.
Canada represented 35% of total US wine exports in 2024. Robert Koch, who leads the Wine Institute said, “The absence of US wine from Canadian stores is not just a market disruption, it’s a breakdown in a trusted relationship built over decades.
“This is not just about wine. It’s about farming families, rural jobs, and businesses that depend on access to international markets.”
Meanwhile, Canadian retailers have filled the gap with domestic products including Maverick Distillery’s Barnburner Whisky and Kavi Reserve Coffee Blended Canadian Whisky
