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. CTV News has reached out to the premier’s office for a response to the added measures from the United States. Follow the latest updates on the trade war here. With files from Hallee Mandryk, Daniel Reech, David Prisciak and CTVNews.ca
