Canadian boycott of US alcohol ‘devastating’ for American spirits industry

American alcohol producers say Canadian boycotts of US liquor are having a major impact on the industry as trade tensions between the two countries continue.

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States says exports to Canada dropped by 63 percent last year as several provinces removed American alcohol products from store shelves.

“We are suffering. It has been devastating,” the council’s president and chief executive Chris Swonger told CBC News.

The boycott began after Canadian provinces responded to the trade dispute with the United States by halting or limiting sales of American alcohol products.

In Nova Scotia, shopper Martha Reynolds told CBC News she has intentionally stopped buying American products, including bourbon and Californian wines.

“I’m doing my very best to not buy American,” Reynolds said outside a Halifax liquor store.

The council said global US spirit exports fell 3.8 percent overall, largely due to the Canadian boycott. 

However exports excluding Canada actually increased by 2.5 percent.

Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation removed American alcohol from shelves in 2025 and has since resumed selling only remaining stock without placing new orders.