Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he has asked the LCBO to remove U.S. liquor from its shelves if Donald Trump imposes sweeping tariffs as he has threatened to do.
Ford made the statement to an audience at the Ontario Rural Municipal Association’s annual general meeting and conference in Toronto on Monday — the same day Trump was inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States.y President of the United States.
“I sent a directive to the LCBO that if these tariffs come through to remove every bit of American alcohol from the shelves. Let’s start promoting more Ontario-made wines, vodkas and spirits. That’s what we have to do,” he said.
“We are the biggest buyer of alcohol in the whole world. They will feel the pain. I will make sure I inform other prime ministers about this so they can follow suit.”
Trump’s threat to impose 25% tariffs on all Canadian and Mexican exports stems from his demand that the allies tighten border security. Ottawa finally revealed a detailed plan last Wednesday, but Trump did not back down.
Trump threatened to impose those tariffs via executive order on his first day in office, however, he will reportedly issue a wide-ranging trade memorandum on Monday that stops short of imposing new tariffs, a new Trump administration official said. Reuters.
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The official confirmed this A Wall Street Journal a report Trump will direct agencies to investigate and address persistent trade deficits, and address unfair trade and currency policies by other countries. The official said he would single out China, Canada and Mexico for scrutiny, and would direct agencies to assess Beijing’s compliance with its 2020 trade deal with the United States, as well as the status of the US-Mexico-Canada agreement.
Ottawa and the provinces have prepared retaliation if those tariffs are imposed. Of these, the LCBO will be barred from purchasing US products, Global News reported last month.
The LCBO did not return a request for comment by press time.
Last week, Ford released estimates showing that a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian goods could cost between 450,000 and 500,000 jobs in that province, depending on the sectors targeted.
That could mean the provincial government would need to spend billions to stimulate the economy, a decision Ford said he could try to frame the election around.
“If it comes down to it and we have to spend tens of billions of dollars, we go to the people — let the people decide, it’s their money,” Ford said.
The premier’s comments that the stimulus package, in his view, requires a new mandate through an election, come as leaders of Ontario’s other major parties have indicated they may support the government on anti-tariff measures without having to go to the ballot box.
However, Ford added: “Nothing has been decided, let’s see where the tariffs go.”
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