{"id":97447,"date":"2025-08-26T04:23:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-26T04:23:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/97447\/"},"modified":"2025-08-26T04:23:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T04:23:13","slug":"what-are-provinces-doing-with-unsold-u-s-alcohol-amid-the-trump-trade-war-national","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/97447\/","title":{"rendered":"What are provinces doing with unsold U.S. alcohol amid the Trump trade war? – National"},"content":{"rendered":"

Nearly six months after provinces and territories pulled U.S. alcohol products from liquor store shelves amid the ongoing Canada-U.S.<\/a> trade war<\/a>, many Canadians may be wondering: where do those products end up?<\/p>\n

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Quebec set off a firestorm last week after its liquor board said it might have to destroy $300,000 worth of American products in storage that were set to expire. The province\u2019s finance minister later said the products would be donated instead.<\/p>\n

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States on Monday called for the return of American products to stores<\/a>, after Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Friday that he was removing Canada\u2019s counter-tariffs<\/a> from U.S. goods covered by the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement on free trade.<\/p>\n

Global News reached out to every province and territory for details on the fate of U.S. alcohol products since they were removed from store shelves in early March.<\/p>\n

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Alberta and Saskatchewan both ended their moratoriums on U.S. liquor in June, but are still encouraging customers to buy Canadian products instead.<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis said no products held back from shipment or sale were destroyed due to expiry before the province began allowing the sale of existing stock again on March 18.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tSome provinces say U.S. alcohol remains in storage\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Ontario, Nova Scotia and Manitoba are keeping their American alcohol products in storage for now, their provincial liquor boards told Global News, with no plans for resale.<\/p>\n

\u201cU.S. product remains off LCBO shelves and are currently held in storage until further notice,\u201d a spokesperson for the Liquor Control Board of Ontario said in an email. \u201cWe are reviewing the best course of action to address any future expiration concerns.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation is currently holding about $14 million worth of American products in storage and has \u201cnot disposed of any of these products,\u201d a spokesperson said.<\/p>\n

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\u201cFor the time being, all U.S. product has been packaged and stored,\u201d they said in a followup email, adding that decisions on future sale of those products will be made by the provincial government.<\/p>\n

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A spokesperson for the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation said it does not have to manage any \u201csignificant\u201d spoilage of U.S. products being held at its distribution centre, which are mostly wine and spirit products that have a long shelf life.<\/p>\n

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\u201cU.S. products continue to be held in storage,\u201d the spokesperson said. \u201cBecause the situation with the U.S. continues to evolve, we cannot identify at this time what might happen to any American products.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Newfoundland Labrador Liquor Corporation \u201cis continuing to hold the U.S. product in storage for the time being,\u201d a spokesperson said, and \u201cwill continue to monitor the situation.\u201d<\/p>\n

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A spokesperson for the Prince Edward Island Liquor Control Commission said American inventory is being held from stores and is being monitored \u201cfollowing appropriate procedures, including secure destruction when necessary.\u201d<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\tOther provinces reselling U.S. products to stores, bars\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

British Columbia, New Brunswick and Yukon\u2019s liquor boards told Global News they are authorized to resell existing U.S.-made inventory to licensees until those supplies run out. After that, American products will be unavailable for purchase.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis means privately-owned liquor stores, restaurants, bars and pubs continue to be able to order and sell U.S.-made liquor products (wines, spirits, beer and refreshment beverages) from existing inventory in LDB and third-party bonded warehouses already in the province, while it lasts,\u201d a spokesperson for the B.C. Liquor Distribution Branch said.<\/p>\n

The B.C. liquor board has not planned any returns of U.S. products to its vendors due to expiry, the spokesperson added.<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\tWhen could prices start dropping as Canada axes U.S. counter-tariffs?\n\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

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The New Brunswick Liquor Corporation (ANBL) moved to a similar resale model in May, \u201cwith the tariff situation continuing to evolve and previously-purchased American stock occupying space in our warehouse that was needed for new inventory,\u201d a spokesperson said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce (licensees) sell through that inventory, they will be unable to get more,\u201d the spokesperson said. \u201cANBL has not ordered any U.S. products since February, and will not until the tariff situation is resolved to New Brunswick\u2019s satisfaction.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reselling existing inventory to licensees \u201cwill help us minimize waste and recover investments we have made in U.S. products,\u201d the spokesperson added, noting requests for those products from customers have been \u201cminimal.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe continue to work internally and with government on strategies to minimize any waste resulting from the removal of American products,\u201d the statement said.<\/p>\n

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The Yukon Liquor Corporation is also authorized to resell its American inventory until it\u2019s depleted, and therefore it does \u201cnot foresee the need to destroy any U.S.-made alcohol products\u201d in the territory, a spokesperson said.<\/p>\n

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A spokesperson for Nunavut\u2019s Finance Ministry said the territory began selling existing U.S.-made inventory again in July \u2014 both in territory-run liquor stores and to licensees \u2014 but its just-completed resupply orders for the coming year \u201chave not included any U.S.-made product.\u201d<\/p>\n

Last week, Quebec\u2019s liquor board, SAQ, said it was preparing to potentially destroy soon-to-expire alcohol products, including American ros\u00e9 and boxed wines, ready-to-drink cocktails, and certain beers and liqueurs not suitable for prolonged storage.<\/p>\n

However, liquor board spokesperson Laurianne Tardif said in a statement that the fate of those products had \u201cnot yet been finalized\u201d and planning was ongoing.<\/p>\n

SAQ said it had $27 million worth of American products in storage, of which $300,000 worth of stock was facing possible destruction.<\/p>\n

The storage itself cost the corporation nearly $500,000 between March 4 and June 21, according to SAQ.<\/p>\n

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Finance Minister \u00c9ric Girard quickly intervened, announcing on X that SAQ would prioritize the soon-to-expire products for donation to foundations, charity events and training purposes in provincial hospitality schools.<\/p>\n

SAQ has since invited interested organizations to contact it<\/a>\u00a0about receiving donated products.<\/p>\n

\u2014 with files from The Canadian Press<\/p>\n

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