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The tariffs were due to be applied from 19 August but were paused at the 11th hour<\/p>\nThe US will not impose a new 50% tariff on Canadian spirits for at least another three days, with president Donald Trump claiming a deal has been struck.<\/p>\n
The tariffs were due to be applied from 19 August but were paused at the 11th hour<\/p>\n
President Trump threatened the tariff in July<\/a> and said it would \u201clevel the playing field for crucial American exports \u2013 cars, alcohol, and dairy\u201d.<\/p>\n The move was in response to the majority of Canadian provinces choosing to remove US-made alcohol<\/a> from their stores following Trump\u2019s initial tariffs.<\/p>\n Exports of American spirits to Canada subsequently plunged by 70%<\/a> in a year.<\/p>\n The retaliatory tariff was due to come into force today (19 August) but has been postponed as talks between the two nations proceed.<\/p>\n Posting on Truth Social, Trump said: \u201cI have paused the 50% tariffs against Canada that were scheduled to kick in tomorrow morning for a three-day period, based on the fact that Canada and the USA, subject to the finalisation of documents, have a deal.\u201d<\/p>\n Canada\u2019s president Mark Carney took a more cautious approach, saying on Twitter that \u201dsubstantial progress has been made, although there is important work still to be done\u201d.<\/p>\n The pause has been welcomed by those in the spirits industry, including the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (Discus).<\/p>\n A spokesperson for Discus said: \u201cWe appreciate president Trump\u2019s continued commitment to restoring access for American spirits products across Canada following the discriminatory sales bans that have unfairly targeted US distillers for more than a year and a half.<\/p>\n \u201cThese provincial bans have caused exports of American spirits to drop by more than 70%, leaving American distillers caught in the middle of a broader trade dispute.<\/p>\n \u201cAs discussions continue over the next few days, we encourage leaders on both sides of the border to reach a negotiated solution that gets American spirits back on retail shelves in all Canadian provinces and returns the spirits sector to a zero-for-zero tariff framework.\u201d<\/p>\n Discus is inviting its members to a Congressional Fly-In<\/a> in Washington, DC, on 24 September.<\/p>\n Related news<\/p>\n \n \n
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