Canadian Booze Bans Rattle the US ft. Dave Infante (Podcast)
Much has been made about the bans, let's dive into the situation
This week on The North State, I spoke to award-winning US alcohol journalist Dave Infante about the Canadian alcohol bans and their effect on the US. RSS feed here. Apple Podcasts link here.
Description
In March 2025, provinces across Canada pulled US alcohol products off of their shelves in response to new tariffs announced by the US Trump administration. It's become such a sticking point that Trump specifically cited Canadian markets for US alcohol as a core reason for a new 50 per cent tariff against Canada. Have the booze bans worked? What has the effect been on the US alcohol industry? Can American brands recover after this debacle? Dave Infante, award-winning journalist and editor of the newsletter Fingers which covers drinking in the US, joins Scott to discuss these questions and more.
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Note: Trump announced he paused the 50 per cent tariff for three days late on August 18.
Sources and Further Reading
Trump pauses 50 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods for 3 days - CBC News
How much damage have Canada's booze bans done to the U.S. wine industry? - CBC News
Trump imposes 50% tariffs on Canadian goods, citing disputes over autos, alcohol and cheese - Associated Press
Three in four Canadians wouldn’t buy U.S. booze if it returned to shelves: Nanos - CTV News
$6.9M worth of U.S. booze sold in Manitoba in December: Liquor & Lotteries - CBC News
Where do Canada-U.S. trade negotiations stand? Here's a sector-by-sector breakdown - CBC News
Canada prepared to halt booze bans, meet other U.S. demands in exchange for tariff relief: sources - Radio Canada
Republican bill aims to punish Canadian provinces with U.S. alcohol bans - Global News
Increased Gen Z drinking sustained, Boomers drinking moderates - IWSR (International Wine and Spirits Record) 2026 Bevtrac Survey
