Donald Trump’s ban on Canadian alcohol imports took effect on Tuesday, blocking about $800 million (£596 million) worth of goods and escalating a trade dispute with a close US ally. The move replaces existing 50 per cent tariffs and follows Canadian provinces’ removal of American alcohol from shops in retaliation for threatened US tariffs.

The immediate impact on US drinkers may be limited because distributors stocked up beforehand, and shipments in containers larger than four litres are exempt. Some brands, including Crown Royal, may continue supplying the US by shipping whisky in bulk for bottling there. Trade expert Inu Manak called the ban unprecedented; US spirits exports to Canada have already fallen 70 per cent, while Canada’s retaliatory tariffs on $27.6 billion of US goods began the same day.