The United States will impose a full import ban on selected Canadian goods from Tuesday, escalating its trade confrontation with its northern neighbour.

The ban takes effect at 12:01am on September 29 under presidential proclamations issued on September 8. It covers Canadian-made alcoholic drinks, dairy products and motorcycles.

The affected goods include whisky, wine, beer, vodka, rum, vermouth, cheese and whey products, as well as motorcycles with larger engines. Cane and invert molasses are also covered.

President Donald Trump ordered the bans in response to Canadian retaliatory tariffs on about 20 billion dollars of US exports, including steel, dairy and farm equipment. Canada imposed those measures after the US placed 50 per cent tariffs on hundreds of Canadian products.

The White House said Canada had continued discriminatory practices against American alcoholic drinks, dairy and motor vehicles.

Canada exported 1.36 billion dollars in alcoholic beverages in 2023, about 90 per cent of it to the United States, with spirits making up two-thirds of that trade.

Why it matters: the bans land without any exemption for the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, raising costs across one of the world’s largest trading relationships.