An executive order from U.S. President Donald Trump banning imports of certain Canadian booze over Canada’s counter tariffs makes direct reference to Saskatchewan’s levy on U.S. liquor imports. Saskatchewan’s levy, which went into effect Tuesday, adds a 50 per cent surcharge onto American made alcohol in response to U.S. tariffs on Canadian booze. The order, which was signed Tuesday, calls it an example of Canada’s “discriminatory treatment” of U.S. alcoholic beverages. It’s one of five orders that will take effect Sept. 29. “Canadian authorities maintained the discrimination and announced additional retaliation against the United States related to U.S. alcoholic beverages,” the executive order reads. “For example, on August 27, 2026, the Government of Saskatchewan — which is one of two provinces that at the time of the signing of [the tariff proclamation] and the effective date of the additional ad valorem duties imposed in [the proclamation] did not outright ban U.S. alcoholic beverages - announced that it would impose an additional 50 percent levy on U.S. alcoholic beverages, effective September 8, 2026, expressly in response to the additional ad valorem duties imposed.” The levy announcement came on Aug. 26, when Premier Scott Moe said Saskatchewan was not considering pulling U.S. liquor from shelves again. Instead, the government said it was leaving that choice to consumers, with U.S. liquor import sales down 40 per cent. “That is a very core value for this government to allow Saskatchewan people to make their own choice,” Moe said August 26. Other provinces have continued an outright ban on U.S. liquor, something Saskatchewan did in the trade war’s early days but discontinued in June 2025, joining Alberta as the only two provinces in the country still selling imported American booze. “In my senior executive branch officials’ opinion, an import ban on certain Canadian alcoholic beverages currently subject to the additional ad valorem duties imposed in [the tariff announcement] is consistent with the interests of the United States and the public interests,” the executive order said. Premier Scott Moe voiced his support for Canada’s “necessary” countermeasures earlier in the day while maintaining his long-held position that the trade war will strain consumers on both sides of the border. In a statement issued Wednesday afternoon, Moe minimized the effect the latest round of tariffs will have on Saskatchewan as a whole, claiming that while some exports like wooden furniture and honey have had tariffs increased, other provincial exports like salt and electrical panels have seen tariffs removed. “About 94% of Saskatchewan exports to the US remain tariff free,” Moe said in the statement. “However, some Saskatchewan businesses and workers have been disproportionately affected, facing market disruptions, higher costs and lost opportunities through no fault of their own. We will continue working alongside those businesses as we advocate for Saskatchewan’s interests.” Moe concluded by reiterating that the goal of all governments involved should be 100 per cent tariff-free exports on both sides of the border. Follow the latest updates on the trade war here. The Saskatchewan NDP criticized Moe’s downplaying of the impact of the U.S.’s newly announced measures. “Even though he acknowledges that some Saskatchewan businesses and workers are being disproportionately affected, he refuses to step in with either supports or retaliation,” Beck said in a statement. “This is not leadership. It is the opposite.” With files from Hallee Mandryk, Daniel Reech, David Prisciak and CTVNews.ca
