- Mark Carney asked Canadian provinces to restore US alcohol to the shelves of liquor stores and supermarkets as a trade deal with the US edges closer.
- On Wednesday, Mark Carney asked provinces to once again allow sales of US alcohol, paving the way for the return of California Merlot and Kentucky bourbon to shelves in the provinces where they have been removed.
- Trade negotiators met on Thursday in Washington for the fourth time in as many days, with Canada-US trade minister Dominic LeBlanc telling reporters afterwards that a deal is "very close".
- Provinces have agreed to restock US booze on shelves, according to a news report.
- US President Donald Trump paused a new wave of tariffs he had threatened to impose overnight on Wednesday on a range of Canadian goods to allow the deal's details to be hammered out.
- Details on what the proposed agreement includes have not yet been announced, but premiers of Canada's provinces said Carney had asked them to end to the boycott of US whiskey and other alcohol.
- US trade representative Jamieson Greer said the US was "very happy" and that the deal eliminated "some of the irritants" with Canada.
- Asked whether the US will also reduce some tariffs it has placed on Canada, Trump said by "a little bit".
- In a post on X on Wednesday, Carney said "significant progress" had been made and that they were moving towards an agreement that addressed "Canada's most important strategic sectors".
- Canada is ‘very close’ to a trade deal, according to LeBlanc.
Prime Minister Mark Carney has called on Canadian provinces to end their ban on U.S. alcohol as trade negotiations with the U.S. advance. The premiers have agreed to restock U.S. beverages, including California Merlot and Kentucky bourbon, which had been removed from shelves due to previous trade disputes.12
Trade negotiators met in Washington, with Canadian-U.S. trade minister Dominic LeBlanc stating that a deal is "very close." Carney emphasized the importance of restoring U.S. alcohol sales, which had seen a dramatic decline, with Canadian imports of U.S. alcohol falling by more than 80% between March 2025 and February 2026 compared to the previous year.31011
The U.S. has also indicated a willingness to eliminate tariffs on Canadian agricultural products, although specifics remain unclear. U.S. President Donald Trump has paused new tariffs on Canadian goods to facilitate the negotiations, expressing optimism about the deal's potential to resolve longstanding trade irritants.5
Carney noted that significant progress has been made, aiming to address Canada's strategic sectors. The return of U.S. alcohol is seen as a key component of the negotiations, with the premiers acknowledging the need to restore these products to liquor stores and supermarkets.
As the trade deal nears completion, the reinstatement of U.S. alcohol could mark a significant shift in Canadian trade relations, potentially revitalizing the hospitality industry and consumer choice in Canada.
“Trade negotiators met in Washington for the fourth time in as many days, with Canada-US trade minister Dominic LeBlanc saying a deal is 'very close'. US trade representative Jamieson Greer said the US was 'very happy' and that the deal eliminated 'some of the irritants' with Canada.”
BBC
The Globe and Mail
