'It's a bad idea': Kentucky governor responds to Canadian tariffs on bourbon

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: Scripps News

Posted 1:52 PM, Mar 09, 2025


Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear wants Canadian leaders to reconsider their retaliatory tariffs on American liquor, including the state’s signature bourbon. Beshear expressed concern that these trade retaliations could have detrimental effects on Kentucky's economy and its bourbon industry. "Tariffs are a bad idea, and it's not just me that's saying it," Beshear said.

Canadian leaders have targeted Kentucky bourbon in response to U.S. tariffs, with some provinces even removing American liquor from store shelves. The move has raised alarms among bourbon producers who fear for the future of their businesses. The Kentucky Distillers' Association said retaliatory tariffs on American whiskey will have "far-reaching consequences."

"That means hard-working Americans — corn farmers, truckers, distillery workers, barrel makers, bartenders, servers and the communities and businesses built around Kentucky bourbon will suffer," KDA said in a statement. "As a distinctive product of the United States, bourbon cannot be made anywhere else in the world. It truly is America's only native spirit. Bourbon jobs are American jobs, and we grow bourbon jobs by opening markets across the globe."

"Retaliatory measures against bourbon harm these markets and jeopardize growth for years to come, including the unjust and disproportionate removal of American spirits from retail shelves and prohibition on new purchases of alcohol from American companies," the statement goes on to say. Beshear attributes the uncertainty facing Kentucky's bourbon industry directly to President Donald Trump. "President Trump started this trade war, and we all knew if he did, other countries would have to respond," he said.

Read more: https://www.scrippsnews.com/life/food-and-drink/its-a-bad-idea-kentucky-governor-responds-to-canadian-tariffs-on-bourbon

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Beshear is a good Democrat so Turtle and SPAWN OF RON PAUL need to have a word with their dear leader.

[4catsmom]

1. you want to know what another bad idea was?

putting Trump in office

[SADAR]

2. Beshear didn't do that. NT

[Irish_Dem]

7. KY citizens voted for Trump.

Karma time.

[Bayard]

12. Many of us did not

Andy Beshear has been a most excellent governor (twice.) I'm afraid of what we'll end up with next.

[atreides1]

27. The actual numbers

1,337,494 Trump/Vance

704,043 Harris/Walz

The numbers show that many Kentuckians did in fact vote for Trump!

I don't doubt that Beshear is an excellent governor, but a majority of your fellow Kentuckians voted to keep the Republican majority in place at the General Assembly. And the Republicans have done everything possible to make Beshear nothing more than a figurehead.

Kentucky will likely end up with a pro-Trump governor the next time, and I'll bet that the General Assembly will revoke a lot of laws that were passed to block Beshear!

[Yavin4]

28. Three times.

They voted for Trump three times.

[Irish_Dem]

29. The karma train has pulled into the Kentucky station.

[Bev54]

3. Don't talk to Canadians about that, talk to the dipshit in the whitehouse

[underpants]

4. 2024 Trump 64.5% Harris 34.0%

https://apnews.com/projects/election-results-2024/kentucky/

[marble falls]

5. I love you, Andy, but you are barking at the wrong tree. President Shitferbrains is the being you should address.

[Captain Zero]

23. Or Glitchy Mitchie.

Beshear should be encouraging Mitch McConnell to step aside NOW.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

6. How can there be Canadian tariffs on Kentucky bourbon?

I thought Canada pulled American liquor off their shelves entirely. Zero product, zero tariffs.

[marble falls]

25. Pulling it from the shelves isn't the same as taking a hammer to it or sending it back ...

... the tariff is there whether they buy product or not. They're making sure few Canadians are buying US liquor.

And there will be Canadian Wild Turkey drinkers who will drive into Detroit or Buffalo to get whatever they want.

US distillers need to talk to Mango Jebus, not Justin Trudeau.

[jgmiller]

8. He might be a Democrat and a good guy but he still has to deal with the reality of his state

His statement it's a foaming at the mouth attack on Canada it's a smart, rational response something that the other party is incapable of.

[Big Blue Marble]

9. With or without tariffs,

Canadians want little to do with any products from the USA. When a country is threatening you,
you do not want to support their economy. Gov. Beshear's words will fall on deaf ears.

[Captain Zero]

24. I bought a bottle of Canadian Club today.

It was on sale at Meijer Grocery, marked down from 16.99 to 12.99.

I noticed it says product of Canada bottled in Chicago. In either case I approve it's sourcing.

I have not bought Kentucky Spirits since at least 2011, because of Mitch McConnell and his perfidy in the US Senate especially after he denied OBama even a vote on his Supreme Court pick.

[marble falls]

26. I drink it from two Kentucky producers: New Riff and Makers ...

... My son bought a barrel from New Riff this last summer for his bar in Anchorage, so we went down with him to choose the barrel. We got to meet the owners and employees. The owners are a lot more Andy Beshear than Mango Jebus. And the work force was a rainbow with gender equality.

Makers Mark is an amazing operation. It's as if environmentalists built their ideal bourbon operation. The employees are a rainbow here, too.

No-till agriculture, sheep and cattle glean the fields, their concern for water quality, recycle of barrels, reuse of the leas for organic cattle feed, etc.

Those were the only two operations I felt weren't part tourist trap, though Makers has a huge number of visitors.

Beam Suntory, a Japanese multinational company that makes alcoholic beverages, owns the Maker’s Mark and Maker’s 46.

[Srkdqltr]

10. Why should his product be more special than any other.

Tell it to Trump

[Demobrat]

11. And Canadians should care about American

red state jobs, why?

[Karasu]

13. Despite the misleading title, he's smart enough to know the blame lies with Trump for instigating, not Canada for

responding.

[hadEnuf]

14. Thank you Beshear for sticking up for good people in your state

but the rest voted for Trump so they deserve this.

[nycbos]

15. It's a great idea.

Trump threatened Canada's sovereignty, and Canada is fighting back. Should they fight back with one hand tied around their backs?

[fargone]

16. I guess if the liquor boards refuse to stock it there won't be any tariffs paid.

[creon]

17. Trump did it

This is entirely Trump's fault.
That gormless twit decided to play the fool.
Kentucky is paying for it.
Blame Trump.

[vapor2]

18. I like Andy but this tariff crap is all on the repugs period

[William Gustafson]

19. "We Told You So!"...

Those four little words that will be spoken a lot over the next four years...

[Marcuse]

20. Appealing to Canada is logical. Appealing to Trump would not be. Andy may as well talk to the Derby winner.

Beshear attributes the uncertainty facing Kentucky's bourbon industry directly to President Donald Trump. "President Trump started this trade war, and we all knew if he did, other countries would have to respond," he said.

[BidenRocks]

21. Mitch McTurtle

Don't look to the court to help.
We were screwed by Kentucky's best!

I'm on Canada's side, Mexico too.
I am tired of the whining about being treated badly and how unfair it is.

[AmericaUnderSiege]

22. Both he and Canada are right.

It plays into the Russian occupation's hands against both America and Canada, but nobody can blame Canada for responding to their own political pressures. They have to look strong for their people. I just hope there are people looking out for the bigger picture.

[Ritabert]

30. Maybe Kentucky voters shouldn't have voted for Trump

Classic example of FAFO and now they're finding out.

[Bengus81]

31. And who did those Corporate owners/CEO's/Chairman in the bourbon industry vote for??

Let me fucking guess?? Trump..so they could have another round of FAT tax cuts paid for on the BACKS of the rest of us.

So boo fucking hoo. FAFO