Quebec Draws a Line on U.S. Alcohol
While there's been talk in Ottawa about softening some of Canada's retaliatory trade measures against the United States, Quebec Premier says that's not happening in his province — at least not when it comes to booze.
The premier confirmed that American-made alcohol will remain off the shelves of the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ), the provincial Crown corporation that controls liquor sales in Quebec, regardless of what federal negotiators decide. According to the premier, the call on U.S. products in SAQ stores rests entirely with Quebec — not with the federal government.
Why This Matters for the Canada-U.S. Trade Standoff
The SAQ pulled American alcohol from its shelves last year as part of a broader wave of provincial and federal retaliatory measures responding to U.S. tariffs. Provinces across the country, including Ontario through the LCBO, took similar action, turning liquor store shelves into one of the most visible symbols of the trade dispute for everyday Canadians.
Now, with reports circulating that Canada may be preparing to walk back some of those retaliatory steps to meet U.S. demands as part of ongoing trade talks, Quebec's premier is making clear his province isn't following suit just because Ottawa might. It's a reminder that Canada's provinces control their own liquor distribution systems, meaning any federal-level trade deal doesn't automatically mean bottles from California or Kentucky reappear on shelves nationwide.
A Patchwork Approach Across the Country
This kind of provincial pushback highlights how fragmented Canada's response to U.S. tariffs has been — and could continue to be, even if a broader deal is reached. Liquor sales are controlled provincially, whether through the SAQ in Quebec, the LCBO in Ontario, or similar boards elsewhere, so each province effectively has its own veto over whether U.S. alcohol returns to its stores.
For Ontario shoppers who've gotten used to seeing American brands missing from LCBO shelves, Quebec's stance is a signal that even a federal thaw in trade relations won't necessarily mean an immediate return to business as usual across the country. Any rollback would likely happen unevenly, province by province, based on each government's own political calculus and appetite for reconciliation with Washington.
Whether other provinces follow Quebec's lead in resisting a full rollback — or move faster to restock American products — remains to be seen as trade talks between Canada and the U.S. continue to develop.
Source: CBC News
