Saskatchewan premier says no more American alcohol in response to U.S. tariffs

Jeffery Tram · CBC News

· Posted: Mar 05, 2025 6:46 PM EST | Last Updated: March 5

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe has announced the province's effect to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, including a moratorium connected American booze and efforts to minimize U.S. materials successful infrastructure projects.

Moe made the announcement at a quality league connected Wednesday, after criticism from the province's Opposition NDP that helium was lagging down different premiers successful responding to the tariffs.

Moe said the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA), the main distributor of intoxicant and sole licensing cause for the province's liquor stores, bars and restaurants, volition halt buying U.S.-made intoxicant and halt selling its existing banal to retailers. He said private businesses will still beryllium allowed to merchantability their remaining American inventory.

He besides said future authorities superior projects person been paused temporarily successful an effort to minimize oregon destruct their usage of American materials.

"The goods and services that are procured by the Government of Saskatchewan ministries, arsenic good arsenic the Crown corporations, are going to marque each effort to prioritize Canadian suppliers," helium said. 

On Tuesday, Trump implemented 10 per cent tariffs connected Canadian lipid and different vigor exports headed to the U.S., and 25 per cent tariffs connected each different products.

Moe said Saskatchewan's effect is due fixed the existent governmental climate.

"Saskatchewan is 1 of the astir diversified provinces and slightest babelike connected the United States of America for our exports," Moe said. "That being said, they are our largest trading partner, our largest ally, and it's important for each of america to retrieve that arsenic we spell done what is admittedly a precise challenging speech with the president and his administration.

"We volition find a mode done it."

In effect to the announcement, NDP Leader Carla Beck criticized Moe for however agelong it took him to marque the announcement.

"The information that helium is the precise past premier successful this state to person travel retired and spoken to the radical of his state has not gone unnoticed," Beck said. "This is anemic leadership."

Beck stressed the value of a agreed beforehand to defend Saskatchewan's industries.

"We volition proceed to widen our willingness to Scott Moe and the Sask Party to beryllium partners successful navigating this hard time, but you gotta get your elbows up," Beck said.

Earlier connected Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump implicit the telephone astir lifting the tariffs. The speech ended with some leaders agreeing to proceed dialogue, though nary factual solution was reached. Trump did announce a one-month tariff exemption for automakers.

Meanwhile, Canada has implemented 25 per cent tariffs on $30 cardinal of goods coming successful from the U.S., with plans another $125 cardinal to footwear successful aboriginal this month. Moe supported the national government's attack Wednesday.

The Prime Minister's Office says that the antagonistic tariffs volition stay successful spot until the American tariffs are lifted.

WATCH | Sask. strikes back: Province to halt purchasing U.S.-produced alcohol: