President Donald Trump has announced 50 percent tariffs on “most” Canadian imports, including beer, wine, cider and whisky.

The White House announced on Monday that the escalation of the trade war was a response to Canada’s retaliation against US trade policy and unfair discrimination against American-made automobiles, alcohol and dairy products.

In a presidential proclamation, the White House cited that “beginning in March 2025, all Canadian provinces and territories halted the purchase, distribution, or retailing of U.S. alcoholic beverages” and that “only the provinces of Alberta and Saskatchewan subsequently lifted their bans on the purchase, distribution, or retailing of US alcoholic beverages”.

It described the halting of alcohol imports as “unreasonable and unequal impositions and discriminations” and claimed that “Canadian imports of U.S. alcoholic beverages decreased by approximately 81 percent”.

The Distilled Spirits Council of the US (DISCUS) has been quick to decry the administration’s decision; in a statement, the trade body said: “Imposing a 50 percent tariff on imported spirits from Canada deepens trade tensions and raises the risk of further retaliation.

“We encourage policymakers on both sides of the border to pursue a negotiated solution that restores market access for US spirits and avoids further harm to the US hospitality sector.”

The rift between the two neighbours reportedly grew on Sunday after Trump was said to confront Canadian prime minister Mark Carney at the final of the FIFA World Cup surrounding wildfire smoke drifting south into the US.

On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump had threatened action over the smoke on Friday, stating: “We are holding Canada responsible for the fact that they are not properly maintaining their Forests, and Brush therein, and the United States is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable.”

Various reports have referenced the wildfire smoke disagreement as a contributing factor to the heightening of the trade war; however, there’s no reference to it in current White House communications.