Jamie Slingerland, director of viticulture at Pillitteri Estates Winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, reports that U.S. buyers are "flabbergasted" by President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a ban on Canadian alcohol imports and add 50% tariffs on other goods from Canada starting September 29th. The winery had already shipped its ice wine products before the latest tariff increase took effect in August, storing them until closer to the holiday season for sale. This move is part of an ongoing trade dispute between Canada and the U.S., affecting industries like Ontario’s wineries, which support approximately 22,000 jobs with a $711 million annual revenue.
Written by the local model on 2026-09-14,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On September 29, U.S. President Donald Trump signed proclamations that ban the importation of Canadian alcoholic beverages into the United States starting from this date. This decision has hit a winery in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario particularly hard. Jamie Slingerland, director of viticulture for Pillitteri Estates Winery, noted that his company's main buyers in the U.S. are "flabbergasted" by these changes. The winery had previously shipped its holiday products early to avoid a 50% tariff imposed earlier on items like whey and molasses, but it couldn't anticipate this total ban. The escalation of trade tensions between Canada and the United States has been ongoing for over 20 months, significantly impacting businesses reliant on cross-border sales.
Written for “US Booze Ban Order Impact” on 2026-09-14,
grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.
Ice wine producer in Ontario's Niagara region says U.S. buyers 'flabbergasted' by Trump's booze ban order
Niagara-on-the-Lake winery says it shipped holiday products before tariffs took effect
U.S. President Donald Trump has ordered a ban Canadian booze effective later this month, but for one winery in Ontario's Niagara region, his tariffs have already killed the possibility of selling to Americans.
"There's no product in the world that could compete in a marketplace with a tariff that high," said Jamie Slingerland, director of viticulture for Pillitteri Estates Winery, pointing to the 50 per cent tariff imposed as of Aug. 22.
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His Niagara-on-the-Lake,-Ont., company has five main buyers in the U.S. who love their "very Canadian" product, but have been left "flabbergasted."
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Last Tuesday, Trump signed five proclamations, including banning import of alcoholic drinks and other goods as of Sept 29. and adding 50 per cent tariffs to other items, such as whey, molasses, furniture, and paper and wood products.
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The move comes after 20 months of escalating trade action between Canada and the U.S.
Winery shipped early to beat latest tariffs
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Knowing tariffs were coming, Slingerland said, the winery pivoted.
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winery → know → ?
Instead of preparing wine to export in the fall before the holiday shopping season, Pillitteri accelerated its schedule and exported four months early.
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Pillitteri → prepare → schedule
Slingerland said their buyers are keeping the product in storage until closer to Christmas.
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buyers → say → Christmas
He said the family-owned winery was able to act quickly in part because it's smaller and independent.
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Other wineries, he said, likely don't have that option.
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"We're not laying anybody off.
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We're not reducing production.
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We're pushing ahead."
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Ontario wineries support 22,000 jobs: association
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There are 186 wineries in Ontario, and they generate about $711 million in revenue and support about 22,000 jobs, according to industry association Grape Growers of Ontario.
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The association website says its industry generates an economic impact of $5.49 billion for the province, including through taxes, tourism and suppliers, per a 2019 study by Wine Growers Ontario.
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Grape Growers has said it recommends businesses impacted by trade disruptions look into federal support programs such as the government of Canada's Regional Tariff Response Initiative.
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John Boynton is president of Arterra Wines, which owns wineries including Jackson-Triggs and Inniskillin, and retail chain Wine Rack.
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He told CBC his team is "disappointed" by the import ban.
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"More than anything, businesses need stability and predictability to plan, invest and grow, and unfortunately the level of uncertainty facing our industry continues to increase rather than decrease," he said in an emailed statement.
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Alcohol products have been used as leverage on both sides of the border, Boynton said, creating challenges for businesses, workers and customers.
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He said it's too early to determine the full impact of Trump's latest ban plan, but in the meantime, his company will focus on "supporting our customers and partners while we assess the implications of this latest measure."
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Slingerland and Boynton both called on the federal government to renew its Wine Sector Support program, which is set to end March 31.
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CBC Hamilton asked Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) if the government plans to renew the program or is considering doing so.
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In an email on Monday, AAFC said the government "remains committed to active engagement with the Canadian wine industry on how best to support its competitiveness and resilience in the current context."
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AAFC said the program has supported wineries with $343 million over five years.
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