The Canadian Snowbird Association (CSA) has advised travellers to the U.S. to avoid packing Canadian alcoholic beverages and some dairy products for their trips.
The advisory was published Monday, a day before U.S. President Donald Trump’s ban on Canadian alcohol and some dairy imports came into effect.
The CSA advised snowbirds to keep the ban in mind when travelling south of the border and to “check their vehicles, RVs and luggage.”
The ban, announced on Sept. 8, barred Canadian exports of more than 30 different alcohol products including beer, wine and spirits such as whiskies, vodka and gin. It also barred different whey products, some types of molasses, non-alcoholic beer and some motorcycles.
Trump announced the ban in response to Canada’s retaliation measures on nearly $28 billion of U.S. imports, announced the same day.
It isn’t clear if the new import restrictions apply to Canadians bringing their own personal supply of Canadian alcohol or dairy.
However, the organization warned: “Do not bring Canadian-origin products that are subject to the new import bans. All food, agricultural products and alcohol must be declared to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).”
On Tuesday, a truck carrying “over 1,000 bottles of spirits” was denied entry into the U.S. by border officials at the St. Stephen-Calais crossing between New Brunswick and Maine, despite the driver holding a U.S. customs permit.
Border officials said the cargo violated the import restrictions that went into effect earlier this week.
Canada and the United States have been embroiled in a weeks-long tariff war after talks of a trade deal broke down in late August. On Aug. 21, Trump imposed 50 per cent tariffs on $28 billion of Canadian goods.
Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said on Tuesday that trade talks aren’t currently underway, but officials from both countries are still in contact.
With files from CTV News Atlantic’s Melanie Price and The Canadian Press
