L.A. Times Politics is reporting that California lawmakers are urging Quebec's premier to lift a ban on U.S. wine and liquor, as exports have plummeted due to the ongoing trade dispute between the United States and Canada. The outlet said President Donald J Trump has escalated an "economic war" with Canada, imposing a new 50% tax on various Canadian exports, including cement, furniture, dairy products and hockey sticks, set to take effect in mid-August. This follows more than a year of reciprocal tariffs.
The L.A. Times reported that California's wine industry, already facing challenges from rising costs, declining sales among younger generations, and the impact of climate change and wildfires, has been significantly affected by the trade conflict. Canada was previously the industry's largest export market, accounting for over a third of the state's wine exports.
Last year, several Canadian provinces, including the most populous ones, Ontario and Quebec, stopped purchasing U.S. alcohol in response to Trump's tariffs and threats. University of California researchers noted that California wine exports to Canada fell by nearly 80% in 2025 compared to the previous year. In response, more than a dozen California members of Congress wrote to Quebec's Premier Christine Fréchette last month, asking her to lift the retaliatory ban. The letter stated that reopening the market would restore consumer choice and signal a commitment to fair trade for both Quebecois consumers and American wineries, who are not directly involved in the broader trade disputes.