Ontario Premier Doug Ford has not shied away from weighing in on the ongoing U.S.-Canada political discourse following Donald Trump’s threats to impose a 25 per cent tariff on all Canadian goods.
While addressing a crowd at the Rural Ontario Municipal Association Conference in Toronto Monday morning, Ford said he has directed the LCBO to “clear off every bit of U.S. alcohol off the shelves” if Trump moves forward with his proposed tariff.
“We are the largest purchaser of alcohol in the world. They will feel the pain. I will make sure I communicate this to our other premiers that they should be following suit,” he said.
“I talked to the great governor of Kentucky, and I remember in the last tariffs, we threw on the bourbon. First thing out of his mouth is ‘don’t touch my bourbon,’ and I said, ‘Governor’ – and that’s a serious business down there, when you [mess] with their bourbon. It’s like messing with our LCBO – I said, ‘You know governor, you’ve gotta talk to your president, because the first thing we’re doing: we’re getting your bourbon.”
Ford’s comments sparked mixed reaction from shoppers outside an LCBO in Ottawa Monday afternoon.
Some were disappointed to hear that American alcohol could soon be in the middle of a trade war.
“That would really suck because I like drinking everything in [the LCBO] and so, it would be just horrid,” Said Joe Brydge. “It would be lots, and it would be a loss. That’s for sure.”
Others stood behind the Premier, supporting his views and defending Canadian alcohol producers.
“It wouldn’t bother me a bit. More room for Canadian products. Maybe we could start bringing in some of the wine from B.C.,” said Mark Flynn. “I think [Trump] is just a bully with a big mouth and how he ever got re-elected is beyond me.”
While Canadian consumers prepare to be thrust into the middle of a potential trade war, few are watching the political landscape closer than those in the agriculture sector.
“About 60 per cent of our agriculture goods are exported. Up to about 95 per cent of those goods in the greenhouse sector, so there are some huge potential impacts here,” said Drew Spoelstra, President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture.
“All eyes right now are on Washington and what’s going on with the new, incoming administration and what their policies might be.”
Spoelstra adds, already, even the threat of tariffs has some farmers looking to get ahead of the game by purchasing things like fuel, fertilizer, and feed earlier than usual in an effort to avoid potentially inflated prices.
For now, Trump has directed U.S. Agencies to study trade deficits.
It’s not clear how long that could take, but in the meantime, farmers are waiting anxiously.
“Farming is already a tough business. We certainly have to deal with things like extreme floods, draughts, storms and weather-related concerns. There’s a lot of risk in our business, and this adds one more level of complexity,” said Spoelstra.
“When we’re talking about tariffs and the unknown, it certainly creates challenges for farmers out there in terms of planning for the future and growing their businesses, so we’re trying to find a softer landing on this front.”
