President Trump's ongoing trade dispute with Canada could soon raise the price of cocktails in the United States, as a proposed 50% tariff on Canadian spirits threatens to hit bars, restaurants and liquor stores. Industry figures warn the move could squeeze American hospitality businesses, though some see it as leverage to push Canada into restoring US spirits to its shelves after a sharp decline in trade.

Chris Swonger, president and chief executive of the Distilled Spirits Council, said the situation cuts both ways, thanking Trump for acknowledging the damage already done to the sector while cautioning that further tariffs could compound the strain. He noted that American distilled spirits exports have already plunged by 73% amid a Canadian consumer boycott linked to the wider trade tensions between the two countries.