British Columbia is removing all American-made products from provincial liquor stores, Premier David Eby announced Monday.
The move is partly in response to the ongoing threat of U.S. tariffs targeting Canadian goods entering that country, and partly in response to reports that U.S. President Donald Trump has ambitions to redraw the Canada-U.S. border and renegotiate agreements on water resources, the premier said.
“If the president is so interested in Canadian water, then we’re going to help him out by letting him keep his watery beer,” Eby quipped to reporters at a liquor store in Victoria.
The provincial government had already pulled liquor products that are made in Republican-controlled jurisdictions, or so-called “red states,” from store shelves in an effort to send a message to lawmakers in Trump’s party.
Eby said the decision to remove all American beer, wine and spirits from government-owned liquor stores is also a recognition of “the feeling that many British Columbians have now when we look at American products” amid the ongoing trade war.
“We don’t even want to see them on a shelf anymore,” Eby said.
The government issued an order to B.C.’s Liquor Distribution Branch on Monday to stop all purchases of U.S. alcohol until the tariff threats had ceased.
The Liquor Distribution Branch, which operates approximately 200 liquor stores throughout the province, said in a statement it has halted the importation of American liquor effective immediately.
Private liquor stores, restaurants and bars may continue to purchase U.S. alcohol from the provincial wholesaler until the existing inventory runs out, the agency said.
The Eby government’s tariff response plan has so far included moves to favour domestic suppliers in all areas of government procurement, supplanting U.S. goods and services where possible, and to levy tolls on American trucks travelling through B.C. to Alaska.
The NDP government is expected to table the proposed U.S. trucking toll legislation this week.
“Let there be no mistake about the intent behind tariffs,” Eby said.
“President Trump wants to hurt Canada economically so he can annex Canada politically. As hard as it is to believe, our longtime friend and ally is behaving like a foe. Trump wants to force us into becoming the 51st state. That will never happen. We are proud Canadians. We will always be the true north, strong and free.”
While the province has ordered the removal of hundreds of U.S. labels from liquor store shelves, the premier encouraged drinkers to take the opportunity to enjoy beer, wine and spirits produced in B.C.
Eby said his own family has cancelled a trip to California after spending $1,000 on tickets for Disneyland before the battle over tariffs began.
“It was not the easiest conversation we had at home,” Eby said.
“There are a lot of sacrifices that my family has to make because of the job that I do, and I’m very appreciative of it,” he added. “But we’re not going to an American theme park for the foreseeable future.”
