LCBO removing U.S. alcohol from its shelves in response to tariffs
Ontario's main liquor store will stop buying and selling American alcohol in response to tariffs imposed on Canadian goods by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Premier Doug Ford directed the Liquor Control Board of Ontario to remove U.S. alcohol from its shelves, website and app.
The LCBO website is temporarily down while the products are being removed. American booze was still on the shelves in at least two downtown Toronto LCBO stores devoid of customers on Tuesday morning (March 4), although staff at one of them said the bottles would be removed later in the day.
The LCBO is also the province's main alcohol distributor, which means grocery and convenience stores, bars and restaurants and other retailers will no longer be able to buy U.S. alcohol.
"Our in-store teams can help customers find alternative products from our extensive selection of products from Ontario, Canada, and around the world," the LCBO said in a statement.
Trump imposed tariffs of 25% on Canadian goods with a lower 10% levy on energy.
The LCBO is the sole purchaser for all American alcohol across the province and imports $965 million worth of booze annually. It has more than 3,600 American products from 36 states on its shelves.
The premier also said he would prioritize Ontario products in the $30 billion worth of procurement the government does each year and would rip up a $100-million deal with Elon Musk's SpaceX for Starlink services. Ford is set to address the media later Tuesday.
Ford said Monday he wants every retail store in the province to show which products are made in Canada and if it doesn't happen, he has threatened to legislate the practice.
He has also threatened to cut off energy supply to 1.5 million Americans and to withhold shipments of nickel to the U.S., but didn't elaborate.
The Ontario Craft Brewers Association said it hopes that the shelf space previously dedicated to American beer can be filled with products from local breweries.
"The positive impact of this move would be massive—it would help Ontario craft brewers withstand the coming tariffs, create more good jobs in our communities, and put more money back into the local economy at this critical time," association president Scott Simmons wrote in a statement.
