Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney doubled down on his country’s provincial bans on U.S. liquor during a press conference Tuesday, saying the bans are in place because of the “irritant” of U.S. tariffs.
In retaliation for U.S. tariffs on its hallmark exports, several of Canada‘s provinces have imposed bans on U.S.-imported alcohol. Carney told reporters that these bans could be resolved “quickly” if the country makes progress in trade talks with its southern neighbor, if the United States reverses course on tariffs it imposed on key Canadian industries such as steel and lumber.
“You know what’s an irritant?” Carney said to reporters in response to a question characterizing the alcohol ban as an “irritant.” “50% tariff on steel, 50% tariff on aluminum, 25% tariff on automobiles, all the tariffs on forest products. Those are more than irritants. Those are violations of our trade deal.”
Carney’s comments come just one day after U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick bashed Canada for its provincial alcohol bans in a congressional hearing.
“It is outrageous that Canada will not put U.S. spirits on the shelf,” Lutnick said before the Senate Appropriations Committee on Wednesday. “It is insulting and disrespectful to America.”
Two Canadian provinces, Alberta and Saskatchewan, have announced rollbacks of the alcohol bans, according to CBC.
Tensions between the U.S. and Canada over the Trump administration’s trade policies have seemingly reached a boiling point in recent weeks. Carney released a 10-minute video address on Sunday, in which he addressed tensions with the U.S., saying Ottawa needs to “take care of ourselves.”
“The U.S. has fundamentally changed its approach to trade, raising its tariffs to levels last seen during the Great Depression,” Carney said. “Many of our former strengths, based on our close ties to America, have become weaknesses. Weaknesses that we must correct.”
Carney’s address came days after Lutnick blasted Canada’s trade strategy, saying in a Semafor summit, “they suck.”
CARNEY SAYS CANADA NEEDS TO ‘TAKE BACK CONTROL’ WITH US RELATIONS FRAUGHT
But Carney still laid out a silver lining for negotiations on Thursday, telling reporters the country is “ready” for more trade talks.
“We’re ready to go into detailed negotiations,” Carney said. “We’re also ready to wait, if that’s what has to happen.”