Canadian travellers face alcohol being confiscated at U.S. border after Trump's import ban - National Post

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is yet to provide clear guidance on whether travellers can cross the border with Canadian-made alcohol. Photo by Alex Edelman /Getty ImagesArticle contentThe Canadian Snowbird Association (CSA) has issued a warning to travellers to the U.S., advising against packing alcoholic beverages and some dairy products when travelling south of the border.

The guidance comes alongside a new U.S. import ban on some Canadian goods — including alcohol and whey products — that took effect on Tuesday. U.S. President Donald Trump announced the ban on Sept. 8, the same day Canadian retaliatory tariffs on nearly $28 billion worth of U.S. imports were imposed.

The CSA said: “For Canadian snowbirds, the changes are particularly important when packing wine, beer and other alcoholic beverages for the trip south. The new import ban covers a wide range of Canadian-origin alcoholic beverages, including packaged beer, sparkling wine, many table wines, cider, sake, rum, vodka, gin and certain whiskies and other spirits.”

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And though the dairy-related import ban is more limited, the CSA warns it could impact whey protein products, certain other whey products, molasses and non-alcoholic beer.

As a result, the organization is advising Canadians travelling to the U.S. to check their vehicles and luggage for Canadian-origin products that are subject to the new import bans.

Cars wait in line to enter the United States at a border crossing in Blackpool, Que. Photo by ANDREJ IVANOV /AFP via Getty ImagesArticle contentEvan Rachkovsky, director of research and communications at the CSA, told National Post in an email: “At this time, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has not provided clear guidance confirming that Canadian travellers carrying Canadian-origin alcoholic beverages or other affected products for personal use are exempt from the new import restrictions.”

He explained that travellers should declare “all alcohol and other applicable products” when entering the U.S., and be prepared for CBP officers to determine whether they are permitted entry. “These items could potentially be refused entry or seized at the border,” he said.