Kosher wine disappears from shelves, as American-made products pulled due to Trump’s tariff fight with Canada, leaving local Jews scrambling for domestic alternative for seders
by Ed White and Leah Douglas
WINNIPEG, Manitoba (Reuters) — For Jews in Canada, much like their American counterparts, Manischewitz kosher wine has become a staple of Passover and other religious celebrations.
But now many are struggling to find the New York state-made drink for the wine-heavy spring holiday, as Canadian government retailers and wholesale monopolies pull American-made products from shelves in protest of US President Donald Trump’s tariffs and annexation threats.
The missing wine illustrates how Trump’s instigation of a trade war with Canada and his bellicose talk is causing pain for Canadian consumers and US beverage companies like Manischewitz owner E & J Gallo Winery, as well as potential opportunities for Canadian competitors.
Many Canadian consumers are embracing a “Buy Canadian” movement and avoiding US-made goods, but for some specialized products like sweet and fruity Manischewitz kosher wine, there is no true alternative, kosher goods retailers and consumers say.
Canada’s provincial governments control liquor sales and wholesaling, and since early March have all banned US alcohol imports as well as most distribution and sales, ranging from Manischewitz wine to Jack Daniels bourbon whiskey.
Existing stocks have been yanked from shelves across the sprawling nation. Private stores, allowed to sell existing supplies, told Reuters their Manischewitz bottles were snapped up by shoppers soon after the provincial governments’ bans were announced.
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As Canadians we should be prepared to do our bit and foregoing manischewitz is but a small sacrifice especially when considering thousands of Canadian auto workers losing their jobs at the same time that we celebrate freedom from bondage.