Ontario Premier Doug Ford has declined to reverse the Liquor Control Board of Ontario's (LCBO) ban on American alcohol, rejecting pressure from Washington to ease the trade restriction.
The decision comes shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to impose 50% tariffs on most Canadian goods, explicitly pointing to the alcohol moratorium as a primary grievance driving the punitive measures.
Ford stated he would not instruct the LCBO to restore American brands to shelves, effectively doubling down on the policy that has become a flashpoint in bilateral relations.
The White House framed the ban as an unfair trade barrier, using it to justify the broader tariff escalation aimed at Canadian imports.
By refusing to capitulate, Ontario signals that domestic policy priorities outweigh the immediate economic threat of steep new duties.
The standoff intensifies an already volatile trade environment.