Cold shoulder from Canada is costly for American distillers struggling with global trade tensions

Cold Shoulder from Canada Costs American Distillers

Exports of spirits to Canada plunged 85% earlier this year, and are down in other markets, said an industry group.

American distillers have gotten a costly cold shoulder from Canada, where their exports plunged 85% earlier this year — topping broad declines in key international markets amid global trade tensions, a spirits industry group said last week.

“Even though things have eased up, we still are not back on the shelf in Canada,” said Kentucky craft distiller Tom Bard. “Probably won’t be for a good long while.”

The majority of Canadian provinces continue to ban American spirits from shelves, though Canada removed its retaliatory tariff on the products weeks ago, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States said.

There’s another nagging concern — that consumer reaction to the trade conflicts could curb the international thirst for American spirits in key markets.

Author summary: US distillers face costly cold shoulder from Canada.

The Philadelphia Inquirer — 2025-10-12

Cold Shoulder from Canada Costs American Distillers

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