American distillers keep a close watch on trade talks ahead of Friday deadline

Distillers touted President Trump's recent trade agreement with the European Union as a step to reviving reciprocal tariffs for distilled spirits. Heath Clark, a distiller in Columbia, Tennessee, hopes the U.S. can reach a similar agreement with Canada and Mexico by the end of the week. Canadian provinces pulled Clark's whiskey off of their shelves in March in retaliation of Trump's tariffs. "In those cases, you've got product that's now homeless," Clark said. The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States says the move cost Canada about $500 million of lost spirits revenue. "It's a terrible word, but it's a little bit bone headed," Chris Swonger, President and CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, said. Trade negotiations with Canada and Mexico are up against a Friday deadline.