‘Worse than tariffs’: Jack Daniels melts down
The owners of Jack Daniels are in meltdown mode after a massive call from Canada left them scrambling.
Jack Daniels is in meltdown mode after Canada’s decision to cancel the sale of their products in several provinces.
In response to Donald Trump’s recent decision to impose 25 per cent blanket tariffs on all Canadian imports to the United States, Justin Trudeau’s Canadian government has imposed similar levies on American imported goods and encouraged its citizens to “buy Canadian”.
Some Canadian provinces that publicly control the wholesale of alcohol, have elected to pull liquor specifically brewed and distributed from Republican states because, in the words of BC Housing Minister Ravi Kahlon, “Donald Trump doesn’t care about Democrat States”.
In storefronts from Ontario to Quebec, signs with the words “buy Canadian” are emblazoned across empty aisles where American smallgoods were once stocked.
One American manufacturer that has been particularly vocal about their discomfort with the recent uptick in Canadian patriotism is Jack Daniels, the famous Tennessee Whiskey company.
Lawson Whiting, the CEO of Jack Daniels’ parent company Brown-Forman, believes the Canadian retaliation is “disproportionate” to the US levies and “worse than tariffs.”
“It’s literally taking your sales away, completely removing our products from the shelves,” he said, although he did concede that Canada only makes up for roughly 1 per cent of total Jack Daniels sales.
The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) is one of the largest buyers of alcohol in the world, and they are also located in Canada’s most populated province.
On Tuesday, the LCBO announced it had “ceased the purchase of all US products”.
“Spirits, wine, cider, beer, ready-to-drink coolers/cocktails, and non-alcoholic products produced in the U.S. will no longer be available in our retail stores,” they said in a statement.
In a recent press conference, Mr Trudeau said “Canadians are not angry at the American people,” but that a response was required because of a “policy decision by the American government designed to go after the Canadian economy”.
“Canadians are hurt. Canadians are angry … we’re going to choose to try to buy Canadian products and forego bourbon and other classic American products,” he said.
Since Trump first implemented the tariffs on Tuesday, the US economy has trended downwards as companies struggle to react to Mr Trump’s erratic approach to policymaking.
On Thursday, Mr Trump signed an order putting a pause on tariffs for select goods being imported from Mexico and Canada, although they are expected to resume in April.
Aussie stocks soar on Trump tariff backdown
A relief rally added $116b in value to the Australian sharemarket on Thursday following Donald Trump’s decision to pull back from a global trade war.
‘Zero’: PM’s huge call on Trump tariffs
Anthony Albanese says Australia is committed to negotiating with Donald Trump on tariffs, but rebuffed China’s offer to “hold hands” in fighting against the measures.
Everything about to change for homeowners
Yesterday, economists were tipping a super-sized rate cut when the RBA meets in a few weeks, but a lot can change in 24 hours – thanks to Donald Trump.