Ontario would remove U.S. alcohol from LCBO outlets if Trump moves ahead with tariffs, Ford says

As Ontario braces for potential U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods, Premier Doug Ford said removing American products from LCBO outlets will be among the provincial-level retaliatory measures he would pursue.

"I've sent a direction to the LCBO, that if these tariffs come, to clear off every bit of U.S. alcohol off the shelves," Ford said during a Monday morning speech to the Rural Ontario Municipal Association.

Ford's address came just hours before U.S. president-elect Donald Trump was set to officially take office for the second time during an inauguration ceremony in Washington, D.C.

Trump has repeatedly threatened to impose a 25 per cent levy on all Canadian goods heading south of the border. Economists and lawmakers have warned the move would ravage multiple key industries across the country and have a measurable impact on Canada's GDP.

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It was expected details of the tariffs would be among the 100 executive orders Trump has said he will sign immediately after his inauguration. But multiple U.S. media outlets reported early Monday that Trump will not move to impose tariffs on the first day of his new administration, offering Canada somewhat of a reprieve for the time being.

Ford said in his speech the tariffs would be "disastrous for both Canadian and American workers." In Ontario, a province that does roughly $500 billion in two-way trade with the U.S., government officials have estimated tariffs could cost up to a half million jobs.

Previous reports from U.S. media outlets have suggested the tariffs could be rolled out in phases, so as to not spike inflation or the price of gasoline. Economists have forecast that a 25 per cent tariff on Canadian oil and gas exported to the U.S. could raise prices at the pumps there by as much as 75 cents per gallon.

For Canada's part, the federal government says it is preparing for an initial round of retaliatory tariffs on some $37 billion of goods that could be expanded depending on the Trump administration's approach.

Ford has spent the last several weeks pitching his idea for "Fortress Am-Can," a renewed economic and security alliance between Canada and the U.S. that would see expanded trade in goods like energy and critical minerals.

"The only thing standing in our way is an unnecessary trade and tariff war started by the U.S. that will only benefit China and Chinese-backed companies by creating the kind of economic uncertainty and conditions for them to continue to rip off American and Canadian workers," Ford said in a statement Sunday.

In speeches and appearances on American cable news programs, Ford has emphasized a "better together" approach, stressing the deep economic and cultural ties between the two countries.

But he's also said he supports retaliatory trade measures if the threatened tariffs are imposed, a move that has led to divisions between Alberta and the rest of the provinces and territories.

"As Premier of Ontario, if President Trump's tariffs make retaliation necessary, I will stand shoulder to shoulder with the rest of Team Canada to fight back using every tool in our toolkit," Ford said in the statement.