Anthony Grice wanted to sell hot chocolate and cakes at the market, but said the £12,000 he was quoted for a stall was too high
Traders claim they have been priced out of this year's Christmas market.
They have told Liverpool City Council leader Liam Robinson that they cannot afford to take space at the event now that a new operator has taken over running it.
Anthony Grice said he had been quoted £12,000 to take a stall at the St George's Plateau attraction.
Robinson said he had met business owners to "understand the challenges and the issues that they might have had this year" so the authority could look at different options in future.