U.S. bans on Canadian booze hit producers on one of the trade war's thorniest fronts
The U.S. has implemented new import bans on specific Canadian goods, including alcohol, dairy byproducts, and motorcycles, as part of an escalating trade dispute. Small business owners, such as craft distillers, are facing significant disruptions to their export operations and market access.
Why it matters
These targeted trade barriers highlight the real-world economic impact of geopolitical trade wars on small-scale producers and cross-border commerce.
"It's a little sad, to be honest," said Lester, founder and operator of B.C.-based distillery Sons of Vancouver.
As of Tuesday at 12:01 a.m. ET, U.S. bans are in effect on some Canadian alcohol products, dairy byproducts, motorcycles and molasses, shutting certain producers out of the U.S. market entirely.
Sons of Vancouver usually ships a few pallets of wheated rye to the U.S. each year — less than 10 per cent of their business overall. But the change is a disappointment for Lester, as he'd been working hard to forge relationships south of the border and expand the business there.
"We still have a little bit available online in the U.S., but that'll be the last of it for who knows how long."
Trump banning import of Canadian booze, motorcycles, other goods into U.S.
The incoming U.S. import bans on Canadian alcohol, whey, molasses and motorcycles, by the numbers
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