Alcohol and Spirits Industry

The article reports that U.S. spirits exports to Canada fell by nearly 70% in 2025 after most Canadian provinces pulled American whiskey and other U.S. alcohol brands from store shelves in retaliation for President Donald Trump’s tariff policies. Data compiled by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States show exports dropping from roughly $250 million a year pre‑dispute to just $89 million in 2025, with March–December exports plunging from $203 million in 2024 to $60 million in 2025. Canada, formerly the second‑largest market for U.S. spirits, has fallen to sixth, with Kentucky’s bourbon industry — which produces about 95% of the world’s supply and supports more than 23,000 jobs — among those hit hardest. Industry leader Chris Swonger says the sector depends on a 'zero‑for‑zero' tariff environment and warns that losing Canadian retail shelf space has been devastating, even as Trump continues to wield tariffs as a central economic weapon. The piece underscores how an ostensibly pro‑manufacturing trade strategy is inflicting significant collateral damage on a flagship U.S. export and on workers in a politically important state.