Manitoba’s leader has expressed a reluctant willingness to consider reintroducing American alcohol into the province as part of a potential trade agreement, but with a notable recommendation – “Don’t purchase it.” Canadian and U.S. officials are in discussions to finalize an arrangement to prevent new U.S. tariffs on nearly $30 billion worth of Canadian goods. During discussions with his cabinet and premiers on Wednesday, Prime Minister Mark Carney raised the issue of reintroducing American alcohol to store shelves, a move Manitoba has not yet agreed to. If the provinces opt to restock U.S. products at Liquor Marts as part of the trade deal, Manitoba’s Premier encourages Canadians to opt for Canadian alternatives instead, stating, “Don’t buy it. Let it sit on the shelf… and buy the Canadian stuff instead,” he informed reporters during a news conference on Thursday.

Manitoba had initially removed millions of dollars worth of U.S.-made alcohol in 2025 in response to tariffs imposed by Trump on Canadian goods that did not comply with the Canada-U.S.-Mexico trade agreement. In December, Manitobans lined up to purchase American liquor for a limited time after the province reintroduced some of its stock before Christmas and donated $2.6 million in proceeds to holiday charities. Additionally, American wines and liqueurs set to expire in the fall were also sold at Liquor Marts in May. Despite the availability of U.S. alcohol, Manitobans demonstrated a preference for local options, leading to a nearly $21 million year-over-year sales growth at the province’s Liquor Marts in June.

In contrast, other Prairie provinces swiftly reintroduced U.S. alcohol to store shelves. Alberta removed U.S. alcohol from shelves in March 2025 in alignment with other provinces but reversed the ban three months later, citing a renewed commitment to open and fair trade. Saskatchewan briefly implemented a ban in March 2025 but later reversed the decision.

Carney also urged the premiers not to exclude the United States from their procurement policies, according to Kinew. Manitoba’s procurement policies have favored Canadian or non-American sources since the onset of the trade war, resulting in an 82% year-over-year decrease in the province’s spending on American companies, as stated by the Premier. Kinew emphasized the significant impact of this policy, noting that the Trump administration’s interest in reaching a deal with Canada is evident.

The Opposition leader in Manitoba criticized Kinew, questioning the Premier’s commitment to supporting local businesses, pointing out the signing of a $36-million contract with American-based Aramark food services in July 2025. Kinew highlighted the importance of tariffs being zero in the deal, particularly to support workers in Manitoba, such as those at the Gerdau steel mill in Selkirk. He expressed concerns about the reliability of a deal with Trump, mentioning the possibility of removing U.S. alcohol from shelves again if necessary.

Kinew emphasized the need to fight for a better deal, portraying Trump as weak and suggesting that Canada has the upper hand in negotiations. He also expressed skepticism about being satisfied with the eventual agreement, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing Team Canada’s interests.