Martha Reynolds, a conscientious shopper, carefully considers the origin of products she purchases, whether at the grocery store or the NSLC in Halifax. With a commitment to avoid buying American goods, she has switched from bourbon to scotch whisky and has embraced local Canadian wines from Nova Scotia, Ontario, and British Columbia. This shift in consumer behavior, coupled with some Canadian provinces halting the sale of American alcohol in response to the U.S.-initiated trade war, continues to impact American alcohol producers negatively.
Chris Swonger, the president and CEO of the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, expressed concern over the significant decline in alcohol exports to Canada, attributing it to the boycott of U.S. alcohol products in many Canadian provinces. The council reported a 63% drop in exports to Canada last year, contributing to a 3.8% decrease in global American alcohol exports. Another reason cited for this decline was whisky producers rushing shipments to the EU in late 2024 to avoid potential retaliatory tariffs.
Despite the NSLC initially removing American alcohol from its shelves in response to the trade war, the corporation resumed sales of existing stock without ordering more. While there was initial demand for American products, sales have since slowed down. It’s important to note that American products exclude goods perceived as American, such as Budweiser brewed in Canada and Southern Comfort produced in Montreal.
NSLC spokesperson Terah McKinnon mentioned that more details on remaining products would be disclosed with the release of year-end financial results in June. Swonger acknowledged the strained political relations between the U.S. and Canada and expressed hopes for reconciliation in the future.
