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The U.S. Alcohol Ban Is Now Live: Who's Exempt, Who's Shut Out, and What It Means for Your Wallet

  At 12:01 a.m. ET on Tuesday, Sept. 29, the United States stopped letting most packaged Canadian beer, wine, cider and spirits through the border. Not taxed. Blocked. It's the sharpest step yet in the alcohol front of the trade war, and it lands on a very uneven set of shoulders. Two weeks ago we walked through what was coming. Now that it's live, here's what the ban actually covers, who slips through, and what it does (and doesn't) mean for your own budget. What took effect The White House announced the measures on Sept. 8, after Canada's own retaliation tariffs kicked in. The U.S. framed them as a response to Canada's treatment of American dairy, autos and alcohol, and to provinces pulling U.S. liquor from their shelves. The ban covers packaged Canadian beer (including non-alcoholic), wine, cider and spirits, plus whey products, molasses and motorcycles over 800cc. Many of the alcohol products were already facing a 50% U.S. tariff imposed in August; the ban ...

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U.S. Intelligence Chair Urges Canada to Boost Defense Spending: "You're Already Past Due"

 

The chair of the U.S. House Intelligence Committee has issued a sharp call to Canada, urging the nation to increase its defense spending to meet NATO commitments. Speaking during a high-profile visit to Ottawa, the chair emphasized the importance of Canada's role in collective security, particularly amid rising global threats.

“Canada has been a steadfast ally, but in terms of defense spending, you're already past due,” the U.S. official stated, referencing NATO’s guideline that member states allocate at least 2% of their GDP to defense. Currently, Canada falls significantly short of that target, drawing criticism from some allies.

The plea comes as tensions escalate globally, with NATO facing challenges from Russia’s war in Ukraine and emerging threats in the Indo-Pacific. U.S. officials have stressed that a stronger Canadian defense budget would enhance both regional stability and the alliance’s collective strength.

In response, Canadian officials acknowledged the concerns but highlighted recent investments in military modernization, including plans to upgrade NORAD and acquire new fighter jets. Critics within Canada argue, however, that the pace of these efforts remains too slow to meet current demands.

As pressure mounts, the debate over Canada’s defense spending is expected to intensify in political and public forums.


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