Yukon premier agrees to reverse U.S. booze boycott, if trade deal reached

Dana Hatherly · CBC News

· Posted: Aug 20, 2026 9:12 PM EDT | Last Updated: August 21

Premier Currie Dixon said Yukoners can expect American-made alcohol products back on government-run store shelves in the territory, if Canada and U.S. trade representatives reach a deal that avoids U.S. tariffs on $30 billion worth of Canadian goods.

In a statement released Thursday morning, Dixon said Prime Minister Mark Carney is asking the territory to put U.S. alcohol back on store shelves.

“The prime minister has indicated that this request comes in the broader context of a deal that is in the best interests of the country,” Dixon said. “On this basis, I have agreed, and steps are being taken to respond to this request.”

American-made alcohol on Canadian store shelves has been a major sticking point for the Trump administration.

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A July 20 proclamation from the White House threatens to add more import duties — 50 per cent on a range of certain products — to offset what it calls "discrimination" against U.S. alcoholic beverages.

President Donald Trump recently extended a looming Aug. 19 deadline for tariff talks. That gives negotiators from the two neighbouring nations 72 additional hours to come to an agreement.

Yukon businesses still selling U.S. liquor

Last March, the territory pulled U.S. booze from shops run by the Yukon Liquor Corporation.

An earlier statement to CBC News from Yukon government cabinet communications said the remaining U.S. inventory made up less than half a per cent of the corporation’s total inventory. It continues to be made available to licensees including restaurants. They could continue to sell U.S.-made alcohol products that they had in stock, the statement said.

Cabinet communications said the liquor corporation sold about $2.3 million in U.S. products to retail customers and licensees in 2024. It accounted for about 5.4 per cent of total net sales, or 1.9 per cent of total volume sold.

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Jen Gehmair is the territorial minister responsible for the liquor corporation. She’s also the economic development minister. Gehmair said Canada and the Yukon have taken a coordinated approach to navigating tariffs.

“To a certain extent, this has brought Canadians together in our efforts to ensure that, you know, Canada is strong, and its economy is strong, and that trade and our relationship with the United States is important, and that we stand up for what we have here as a country and what we offer as a country,” she said.

“We're looking forward to seeing the other side of this.”

Gehmair said she believes the booze boycott was meant to be temporary. She looks forward to seeing the tariff situation get better for Canadian residents, workers and businesses, as a result of negotiations.

Yukon minister hopeful for some relief

Gehmair said she hasn't been privy to all the details from the negotiating table.

The territory has seen less of a direct impact from the U.S. tariffs because the Yukon doesn’t have a large export market, she said. The premier recently made similar comments.

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But the construction industry has been feeling it, she added.

“What we're hoping for is that the work that Canada's done with the provinces and territories brings some reprieve and improves affordability for Canadians and also for Yukoners,” Gehmair said.

On the streets of Whitehorse Thursday, resident Michelle Chen said the trade war is making life more expensive and “harder.”

Dixon's statement said if the deal goes forward, then Yukoners can expect a gradual return of U.S. alcohol to government store shelves in the coming weeks.

Louis Hendrikx, visiting Yukon this week from southern Ontario, doesn’t see a problem with reintroducing it.

“I don’t know how many people are going to buy it,” he said. “But we don’t know what the deal is yet anyways, so it’s a little jumping the gun.”

Hendrikx said he’ll be sticking with the Canadian stuff for now.

LISTEN | Yukon minister weighs in on tariffs ahead of deal deadline: