A 50% tariff on Canadian alcohol has been signed: US and Canadian producers have 30 days before it takes effect

President Trump signed a Presidential Proclamation on 20 July 2026 imposing a 50% additional tariff on Canadian beer, wine, cider, and spirits, effective 12:01am EDT on 19 August 2026. The measure was imposed under Section 338 of the Tariff Act of 1930 – a statute that gives the President authority to impose duties of up to 50% on imports from countries found to be discriminating against US commerce. The tariffs apply even to Canadian alcohol products that qualify for preferential treatment under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, overriding the USMCA’s zero-duty provisions for covered goods.