Anthony D'Orazio
@redargyle.bsky.social
Libertarian, rabbit owner, Red Sox fan, IT guy, music blogger, curling advocate. pants enthusiast. Opinions are mine, not the opinion of my rabbits.
This tit-for-tat retaliation based on poor information and false reporting needs to stop. It needs to stop now. It is hurting the United States and Canada to great degrees. It is sowing division that has not existed and should not exist.
Stop the trade war escalation, Donald Trump.
Stop the trade war escalation, Donald Trump.
September 9, 2026 at 7:54 PM
This tit-for-tat retaliation based on poor information and false reporting needs to stop. It needs to stop now. It is hurting the United States and Canada to great degrees. It is sowing division that has not existed and should not exist.
Stop the trade war escalation, Donald Trump.
Stop the trade war escalation, Donald Trump.
(as an aside these policies now make it very very difficult for me to get
@AlexanderKeiths
in the US, already a tall order. I really miss it (and other Canadian beers - looking at you,
@WildRoseBrewery
and your delicious Wraspberry Ale that got me way too... happy in Calgary in 2019))
@AlexanderKeiths
in the US, already a tall order. I really miss it (and other Canadian beers - looking at you,
@WildRoseBrewery
and your delicious Wraspberry Ale that got me way too... happy in Calgary in 2019))
September 9, 2026 at 7:54 PM
(as an aside these policies now make it very very difficult for me to get
@AlexanderKeiths
in the US, already a tall order. I really miss it (and other Canadian beers - looking at you,
@WildRoseBrewery
and your delicious Wraspberry Ale that got me way too... happy in Calgary in 2019))
@AlexanderKeiths
in the US, already a tall order. I really miss it (and other Canadian beers - looking at you,
@WildRoseBrewery
and your delicious Wraspberry Ale that got me way too... happy in Calgary in 2019))
We repealed prohibition, folks.
But this is where we are.
But this is where we are.
September 9, 2026 at 7:54 PM
We repealed prohibition, folks.
But this is where we are.
But this is where we are.
As it stands, imports of alcohol are regulated nationally at the border by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). I believe this system to be unconstitutional, outrageous, and an overreach of federal powers that should be held by the states.
September 9, 2026 at 7:54 PM
As it stands, imports of alcohol are regulated nationally at the border by the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP). I believe this system to be unconstitutional, outrageous, and an overreach of federal powers that should be held by the states.
I would LOVE ABC boards to be abolished nationwide and to let the free market dictate what is sold. In the states without ABC, alcohol tends to be cheaper and it's easier to find smaller brands that aren't just conglomerate liquors.
September 9, 2026 at 7:54 PM
I would LOVE ABC boards to be abolished nationwide and to let the free market dictate what is sold. In the states without ABC, alcohol tends to be cheaper and it's easier to find smaller brands that aren't just conglomerate liquors.
These state boards aren't QUITE as powerful as the SAQ, for example - but they do wield a lot of force when it comes to pricing and presentation.
September 9, 2026 at 7:54 PM
These state boards aren't QUITE as powerful as the SAQ, for example - but they do wield a lot of force when it comes to pricing and presentation.
By the way, structural control over alcohol distribution exists in the U.S. as well - 17 states operate as "Control States" (or Alcoholic Beverage Control / ABC states) where state governments hold a monopoly over the wholesale, distribution, or retail sale of spirits and, in some cases, wine.
September 9, 2026 at 7:54 PM
By the way, structural control over alcohol distribution exists in the U.S. as well - 17 states operate as "Control States" (or Alcoholic Beverage Control / ABC states) where state governments hold a monopoly over the wholesale, distribution, or retail sale of spirits and, in some cases, wine.
And yes, the SAQ and the LCBO did that, although I believe Ontario has backed off it a little (Quebec has not).
However, thanks to the trade wars, people were already not buying American liquor in the same volumes when that happened. They were responding to consumers.
However, thanks to the trade wars, people were already not buying American liquor in the same volumes when that happened. They were responding to consumers.
September 9, 2026 at 7:54 PM
And yes, the SAQ and the LCBO did that, although I believe Ontario has backed off it a little (Quebec has not).
However, thanks to the trade wars, people were already not buying American liquor in the same volumes when that happened. They were responding to consumers.
However, thanks to the trade wars, people were already not buying American liquor in the same volumes when that happened. They were responding to consumers.
In Canada, provincial governments control the distribution of alcohol (LCBO in Ontario, SAQ in Quebec). During geopolitical friction, provincial governments have ordered their boards to strip U.S. product from shelves - effectively banning sales of U.S. products across entire provinces overnight.
September 9, 2026 at 7:54 PM
In Canada, provincial governments control the distribution of alcohol (LCBO in Ontario, SAQ in Quebec). During geopolitical friction, provincial governments have ordered their boards to strip U.S. product from shelves - effectively banning sales of U.S. products across entire provinces overnight.
I know Trump has (in my opinion, illegally - I'll get there in a second) banned the import of some Canadian alcohol as well. Not whisky - there is a God - but a lot of others.
September 9, 2026 at 7:54 PM
I know Trump has (in my opinion, illegally - I'll get there in a second) banned the import of some Canadian alcohol as well. Not whisky - there is a God - but a lot of others.
So yeah. We both do that.
September 9, 2026 at 7:54 PM
So yeah. We both do that.
You know what else is true?
The U.S. enforces "Buy American" and "Buy America" laws (expanded under both the first Trump administration and the Biden administration). These laws mandate strict U.S. content thresholds for federal spending, which Canadian firms routinely fight to get exemptions from.
The U.S. enforces "Buy American" and "Buy America" laws (expanded under both the first Trump administration and the Biden administration). These laws mandate strict U.S. content thresholds for federal spending, which Canadian firms routinely fight to get exemptions from.
September 9, 2026 at 7:54 PM
You know what else is true?
The U.S. enforces "Buy American" and "Buy America" laws (expanded under both the first Trump administration and the Biden administration). These laws mandate strict U.S. content thresholds for federal spending, which Canadian firms routinely fight to get exemptions from.
The U.S. enforces "Buy American" and "Buy America" laws (expanded under both the first Trump administration and the Biden administration). These laws mandate strict U.S. content thresholds for federal spending, which Canadian firms routinely fight to get exemptions from.
I can attest to this. I experienced it in Alberta. Well, actually, I experienced it in Ontario so I could work in Alberta.
That was a fun day in Queenston!
That was a fun day in Queenston!
September 9, 2026 at 7:54 PM
I can attest to this. I experienced it in Alberta. Well, actually, I experienced it in Ontario so I could work in Alberta.
That was a fun day in Queenston!
That was a fun day in Queenston!
Provinces - most notably Ontario and Quebec - do have provincial or Canadian "Buy Local" policies for sub-national infrastructure, transit, and IT projects, frustrating U.S. suppliers who feel blocked at the provincial level.
September 9, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Provinces - most notably Ontario and Quebec - do have provincial or Canadian "Buy Local" policies for sub-national infrastructure, transit, and IT projects, frustrating U.S. suppliers who feel blocked at the provincial level.
Now, let's address the claim of U.S. manufacturers being shut out of Government Procurement Markets.
It's true. Somewhat.
It's true. Somewhat.
September 9, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Now, let's address the claim of U.S. manufacturers being shut out of Government Procurement Markets.
It's true. Somewhat.
It's true. Somewhat.
Don't even get me started on how wrong he is on automobiles, a sector that's been manufacturing for the U.S. market in Canada since at least 1965, when PM Pearson and President Johnson signed the Auto Pact, which eliminated tariffs on vehicles and OEM parts moving between the U.S. and Canada.
September 9, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Don't even get me started on how wrong he is on automobiles, a sector that's been manufacturing for the U.S. market in Canada since at least 1965, when PM Pearson and President Johnson signed the Auto Pact, which eliminated tariffs on vehicles and OEM parts moving between the U.S. and Canada.
We probably do need a higher butter quota (which, by the way, is 4500 metric tons, which equates to almost 40 MILLION sticks of butter. Canada would probably consume more butter. However, in practice, we are NOT paying high tariffs on dairy, and we are selling a LOT of dairy in the Canadian market.
September 9, 2026 at 7:54 PM
We probably do need a higher butter quota (which, by the way, is 4500 metric tons, which equates to almost 40 MILLION sticks of butter. Canada would probably consume more butter. However, in practice, we are NOT paying high tariffs on dairy, and we are selling a LOT of dairy in the Canadian market.
Except the dairy industry is right around $800 BILLION in economic impact in the US. Yes, it could be a small bump... assuming that Canadians would even buy, and, like I said, we don't actually hit the quotas on anything except butter, and even that we don't exceed.
September 9, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Except the dairy industry is right around $800 BILLION in economic impact in the US. Yes, it could be a small bump... assuming that Canadians would even buy, and, like I said, we don't actually hit the quotas on anything except butter, and even that we don't exceed.
Heck, in the milk powder category, we're not even registering much of anything when it comes to exporting to Canada. If we did meet or exceed these quotas, it could mean approximately $30 to $120 million more to US dairy farmers. Sounds great, right?
September 9, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Heck, in the milk powder category, we're not even registering much of anything when it comes to exporting to Canada. If we did meet or exceed these quotas, it could mean approximately $30 to $120 million more to US dairy farmers. Sounds great, right?
And, to be fair, when it comes to butter, cheese and liquid milk, we do come close to our quotas - but we don't exceed them (we HAVE hit the cap on butter but that's uncommon and based on demand).
September 9, 2026 at 7:54 PM
And, to be fair, when it comes to butter, cheese and liquid milk, we do come close to our quotas - but we don't exceed them (we HAVE hit the cap on butter but that's uncommon and based on demand).
Since the adoption of the USMCA, exports of dairy products to Canada have practically doubled, to more than $1.3 billion annually across all classes of dairy - cheese, milk, butter, etc.
September 9, 2026 at 7:54 PM
Since the adoption of the USMCA, exports of dairy products to Canada have practically doubled, to more than $1.3 billion annually across all classes of dairy - cheese, milk, butter, etc.