U.S. booze isnt returning to the LCBO yet. Is prohibition helping in tariff war? [Video]

Ontario’s short-lived energy surcharge may be on hold as Canada and the United States probe for a breakthrough in their tariff war but American alcohol is not yet returning to the shelves of the LCBO.

On March 4, Ontario Premier Doug Ford ordered the LCBO to remove U.S.-made alcohol from its stores and wholesale catalogue as part of a local tariff response package.

He said the move would remain in place until there were “zero tariffs” on Canadian exports to the United States, and underscored that neither pauses nor targeted relief would move the dial.

That stance softened somewhat on Tuesday when Ford paused a surcharge he introduced on Ontario energy sold to the United States. He said the move was a show of goodwill when the Trump administration offered the “olive branch” of a meeting at the White House.

Alcohol at the LCBO, however, will remain off the shelves until the entire tariff dispute is …