Carney Urges Provinces to Restore U.S. Booze Sales as Imports Stay Down 81%
Updated
Updated · CBC Sports · Aug 20
Carney Urges Provinces to Restore U.S. Booze Sales as Imports Stay Down 81%
3 articles · Updated · CBC Sports · Aug 20
Summary
Mark Carney asked premiers to let provincial retailers restock U.S. alcohol, with Manitoba's Wab Kinew saying a Canada-U.S. trade deal by week’s end could hinge on the issue.
Quebec said lifting its ban is possible if the tentative trade terms are positive for its economy, while Yukon signaled a gradual return of U.S. brands in the coming weeks if a deal is reached.
The bans have been a key pressure point in the talks: the Trump administration said Canadian imports of U.S. alcohol fell 81% year over year to $137 million from $718 million.
Consumer resistance may outlast any policy shift, with an Angus Reid poll finding 48% of Canadians do not want U.S. alcohol returned to provincially controlled stores.