Canadian boycott of U.S. spirits in trade war hurts broader alcohol sales, analysis says
Sales of U.S. spirits in Canada dropped 66.3 per cent between March 5, when provinces announced they would stop carrying the products in retail stores, and the end of April, according to an analysis by Spirits Canada.
The group, which represents Canadian manufacturers and marketers of distilled spirits, said total spirits sales in Canada fell 12.8 per cent during the same period.
U.S. wine and spirits off the menu long-term for majority of Canadian drinkers: report
Trump thinks Canadians are 'nasty' to deal with for avoiding U.S. travel, banning booze, ambassador says
'The North American spirits sector is highly interconnected, and the immediate and continued removal of all U.S. spirits products from Canadian shelves is deeply problematic for spirits producers on both sides of the border,' said Cal Bricker, president and CEO of Spirits Canada.
Several Canadian provinces pulled U.S. spirits from liquor stores in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's imposition of a 25 per cent tariff on certain imports.
Most recently, Trump's threat to impose a 35 per cent tariff on Canadian goods starting Aug. 1 has raised concerns about an escalating trade war and spurred a 'Buy Canadian' movement among consumers and businesses.
In early March, Jack Daniel's maker Brown-Forman Corp called the removal of American bourbon and whiskey from Canadian liquor stores worse than Canada's retaliatory tariffs and described it as a disproportionate response to Trump's levies.
Trump threatens 35% tariffs on Canadian goods starting Aug. 1
According to Spirits Canada, sales of U.S. spirits in Ontario, Canada's largest market for spirits, plunged 80 per cent after the products were removed from shelves. Two provinces, Alberta and Saskatchewan, have since resumed selling U.S. spirits, the group said.
The decision to pull U.S. spirits has hurt American distillers, as well as Canadian revenues, consumers and hospitality businesses, Spirits Canada added.
Currently, U.S. tariffs are suspended on imports from Canada that comply with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). Spirits produced in Canada fall under this trade pact.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Canada News.Net
44 minutes ago
- Canada News.Net
Face-covered ICE officers raise alarm nationwide
NEW YORK CITY, New York: In recent months, a new and unusual image has become common across the United States: immigration officers carrying out raids with their faces covered. They wear caps, sunglasses, balaclavas, or neck gaiters that make it nearly impossible to identify them. What used to be rare is now routine. Under President Donald Trump's administration, these masked agents have become the face of a large immigration crackdown. Their presence has caused worry, confusion, and growing public concern. By mid-2025, the masked officer has become a powerful symbol of the administration's push for mass deportations. Critics say this sends a scary message—law enforcement without responsibility. Supporters say the masks are needed to protect officers who face real threats in their work. The use of masks at this scale is something new in American law enforcement. These agents are not working in secret or as part of special units—they operate openly, but without showing their faces. This has raised serious questions about public oversight, trust, and accountability. Officials from the Trump administration say the masks are necessary because immigration agents have been facing more threats, both online and in real life. Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons said last month that the safety of agents and their families comes first. "I'm sorry if people are offended by them wearing masks," Lyons said. "But I'm not going to let my officers or their families be put at risk just because people don't like immigration enforcement." Not everyone agrees. Democratic politicians and civil rights groups say the masks make people more afraid and take away the public's right to hold law enforcement responsible. In a letter to Lyons, several Democratic senators said the sight of masked agents during raids at restaurants and workplaces "adds to the fear and confusion" and seems like a way to avoid being held accountable. The issue also touches a cultural nerve. In American movies and stories, people who cover their faces are often shown as criminals—robbers, bandits, or mysterious vigilantes. Even in comic books, masked heroes are sometimes criticized for hiding their identities. And in American law, people are usually expected to face their accusers. That makes the current use of masks by law enforcement feel even more troubling to many. The issue is also tied to recent political history. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Trump and many of his supporters opposed mask mandates, saying masks were a sign of government overreach. More recently, Trump said that protestors who wear masks should be arrested—something critics now call hypocritical, since his administration is allowing federal agents to hide their faces. "This is dangerous territory," said Tobias Winright, a former police officer and professor of moral theology at St. Patrick's Pontifical University in Ireland. "When the police hide their identities, it takes away accountability. If you're doing the right thing, why hide your face?" In the past, people have fought for more police transparency, pushing for officers to wear body cameras and display name tags or badge numbers. However, the use of masks by regular law enforcement is new in the U.S., and it's raising significant concerns. "This isn't just about new tactics," Winright said. "It's about changing the values we expect from law enforcement." As the immigration raids continue and more images of masked agents appear in the media, the debate is likely to grow. For many Americans, these covered faces are not just practical tools—they represent a government that is becoming harder to see and harder to question.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Commercial waste workers strike in Sudbury, demanding better pay
Northern Ontario Watch 25 Waste Management workers are striking along LaSalle Boulevard in Greater Sudbury. LiUNA Local 493 cites pay and cost-of-living concerns. Union members rejected the company's latest offer on July 18 but say they are open to further talks. The company says most services are currently unaffected by the strike. Madison Marier has more.
The Province
an hour ago
- The Province
Coca-Cola to release new Coke with sugar. Trump says it's 'better' than corn syrup. Is it?
'I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so,' Trump said Many Americans and Canadians seek out Mexican Coke, imported in nostalgic glass bottles and sweetened with sugar, not high-fructose corn syrup. Photo byCoke preferences can get pretty niche. People in Canada and the United States have long waxed lyrical about the Mexican version. (Though some claim Colombian Coke is even better.) One of the most common reasons fans give for seeking out the nostalgic, glass-bottled Mexican import comes down to the sweetener. Our southern-most North American neighbour uses sugar, while the Canadian and American versions contain high-fructose corn syrup. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Exclusive articles by top sports columnists Patrick Johnston, Ben Kuzma, J.J. Abrams and others. Plus, Canucks Report, Sports and Headline News newsletters and events. Unlimited online access to The Province and 15 news sites with one account. The Province ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition to view on any device, share and comment on. Daily puzzles and comics, including the New York Times Crossword. Support local journalism. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Along with seed oils and artificial food dyes, U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has targeted high-fructose corn syrup in his 'Make America Healthy Again' campaign. On July 16, President Donald Trump pitted the sweetener against sugar, saying that Coca-Cola had agreed to swap out corn syrup in its flagship product. 'I have been speaking to Coca-Cola about using REAL Cane Sugar in Coke in the United States, and they have agreed to do so,' Trump posted on Truth Social. 'I'd like to thank all of those in authority at Coca-Cola. This will be a very good move by them — You'll see. It's just better!' On Tuesday, Coca-Cola announced that it will launch a new sugar-sweetened Coke product in the U.S. this fall. Here's what you need to know about Trump's Coke claims, the case against high-fructose corn syrup and whether the choice of sweetener makes any difference to health. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Trump, who reportedly drinks a dozen cans of aspartame-containing Diet Coke a day and had a 'Diet Coke button' installed in the Oval Office's Resolute desk, said the cane sugar-sweetened version is 'just better!' But is it? 'When it comes to cane sugar versus corn syrup, both are refined sugars that contribute calories but offer no significant nutrients,' Toronto-based registered dietitian Amanda Natividad-Li said in an email to National Post. 'If you're reducing sugar for health or weight reasons, focusing on total added sugar intake is more important than choosing between cane sugar and corn syrup.' Swapping one type of sugar for another doesn't make Coke or any other soft drink healthier, nutrition experts say. The body absorbs all added sugars the same way, whether cane sugar, corn syrup, maple syrup or molasses, according to Diabetes Canada. Essential reading for hockey fans who eat, sleep, Canucks, repeat. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Research suggests that 'from a nutritional standpoint, there's no difference between high-fructose corn syrup and sucrose (table sugar),' Marion Nestle, the Paulette Goddard Professor of Nutrition, Food Studies and Public Health, Emerita, at New York University, told CNN. 'They have the same number of calories,' Nestle said. 'They taste the same.' On July 16, U.S. President Donald Trump said Coca-Cola had agreed to swap corn syrup for cane sugar in American Coke. Photo byWhat is high-fructose corn syrup? High-fructose corn syrup is made from cornstarch. Roughly 80 per cent of the world's sugar is made from sugarcane, and the remaining 20 per cent is produced using sugar beets, according to the Canadian Sugar Institute. Unlike sugarcane, a tropical plant, corn is native to the Americas. It's plentiful in North America, where corn syrup is cheaper than sugar. (The crop is also supported by farming subsidies in the U.S.) This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Food manufacturers use high-fructose corn syrup in a wide range of products, such as pop, juice, candy, cereal and pastries. 'High-fructose corn syrup isn't necessarily worse for us than table sugar, but there is just too much of it in our food supply,' according to Frank Hu, a professor of nutrition and epidemiology at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. Hu noted that the two sweeteners are nearly chemically identical. High-fructose corn syrup is roughly 55 per cent fructose and 40 per cent glucose (the remaining five per cent is composed of 'minor' sugars and other ingredients). Sugar is 50 per cent glucose and 50 per cent fructose. Natividad-Li points out that corn syrup contains more free fructose than sugar. (If food has more fructose than glucose, the extra amount is called free fructose.) But the nutritional difference is negligible. 'High amounts of fructose in the diet can promote fat accumulation in the liver and increase triglycerides,' she says. 'However, the difference between the two types of sugar is minor, and both are best consumed sparingly.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. High-fructose corn syrup appears as 'glucose-fructose' in Canadian ingredient lists, highlights the National Indigenous Diabetes Association. Coca-Cola Canada lists it on product pages as 'sugar/glucose-fructose' (which Health Canada defines as 'sugar or glucose-fructose, singly or in combination'). What is Coca-Cola saying about the recipe change? Coca-Cola has been using high-fructose corn syrup to sweeten Coke in the U.S. since the 1980s. In response to Trump's social media post, the beverage giant initially said it appreciated his 'enthusiasm' for the brand and that details on 'new innovative offerings' would soon follow. A day later, on July 17, the company defended high-fructose corn syrup, saying it's 'just a sweetener made from corn,' in a statement. 'It's safe; it has about the same number of calories per serving as table sugar and is metabolized in a similar way by your body.' This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Then, in a July 22 earnings release, Coca-Cola announced plans to launch a new sugar-sweetened product — not reformulate its existing line. 'As part of its ongoing innovation agenda, this fall in the United States, the company plans to launch an offering made with U.S. cane sugar to expand its Trademark Coca-Cola product range.' Read More Does sugar-sweetened coke taste better? As with all things, whether or not sugar-sweetened Coke tastes better than corn syrup-sweetened is highly individual. There seems to be a consensus among North American foodies, though, that sugar-packed Mexican Coke reigns supreme. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. American food writer J. Kenji López-Alt, the managing culinary director of Serious Eats, is one of Mexican Coke's many fans. In 2023, he conducted a taste test — American versus Mexican Coke. Despite the number of people who swear by the superiority of the Mexican version, testers preferred the flavour and aroma of the American product seven times out of eight. López-Alt concluded, 'Those folks who prefer Mexican Coke (like myself), really just like the idea of Mexican Coke — whether it's because they think real sugar is tastier/healthier than corn syrup, whether it's because Mexican Coke is more expensive and harder to find, thus more valuable, whether it's because of its exoticism, whatever the reason — strip away the Mexicanness of it, and suddenly it's a lot less appealing.' Shining a light on factors other than the type of sweetener, the Serious Eats taste test also found that people prefer glass bottles to aluminum cans, a sentiment echoed on Reddit's AskAnAmerican thread. 'For me personally, it's the glass bottle,' one user posted. '(I don't know) what the difference is or why, but it simply tastes better.' Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark and sign up for our cookbook and recipe newsletter, Cook This, here. Vancouver Canucks Crime Local News Vancouver Canucks Sports
