Manitoba will keep U.S. alcohol on store shelves after NDP Premier Wab Kinew paused plans to remove it, due to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announcing a 30-day hold on President Donald Trump’s 25% trade tariffs.
Kinew said provincial bans on U.S. products and federal counter-tariffs “got the attention” of U.S. officials, calling the delay a short-term win.
"The fact that we, along with other provinces, were banning U.S. booze from the shelves, along with the counter-tariffs by the federal government that we supported,” said Kinew.
“I think got the attention of the United States of America.”
However, Kinew warned Manitoba must reduce reliance on U.S. markets to avoid future issues, particularly if tariffs resurface under policies linked to Trump.
“We need to Trump-proof our economy,” Kinew said, urging expanded trade with the European Union, Asia, and other regions.
Kinew wants Manitoba to focus on innovation in technology, agriculture, and mining to “make more stuff here” and strengthen resilience.
"It's very clear that we have to start planning our economy to be more resilient and to be able to withstand these sorts of situations, so that we don't find ourselves in a similar position going forward," said Kinew.
Manitoba also suspended talks about barring U.S. firms from provincial contracts.
Trump’s 25% tariffs were paused following negotiations between Trudeau and Trump late Monday afternoon.