Eby: No U.S. booze
Photo: BC Wine Growers
B.C. Premier David Eby says U.S. alcohol will remain off provincial liquor store shelves as long as the United States continues to target B.C.’s forest sector with tariffs.
Speaking at a press conference Saturday, Eby said his message to Prime Minister Mark Carney, the U.S. ambassador and American politicians calling for the return of U.S. alcohol has been consistent.
“My message to the Prime Minister, and to the American Ambassador, and to American politicians who have asked, has always been the same.
“That once forest families who work in the forest sector in British Columbia are treated fairly, that we would be happy to put American booze back on the shelves. Obviously that is not the case and as long as this economic attack continues on our softwood sector, as long as it continues on our economy here in British Columbia, the booze will not be going back on the shelves.”
Eby said B.C. wants its forest products to receive the same access to the U.S. market as products from other countries.
“Even Russian forest products have better access to the U.S. market right now than Canadian forest products, and in that environment the idea that we would be stocking US liquor is absurd.”
Canadian provinces removed U.S. alcohol from liquor stores last year after U.S. President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian goods.
The trade dispute has grown, with the U.S. imposing 50 per cent tariffs on about $20 billion worth of Canadian goods. Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada will respond with matching tariffs starting Sept. 8.
Eby’s comments come as Wine Growers British Columbia asks the province to protect space for B.C. wine if U.S. products return to store shelves.
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Dining and Cooking