More than seven months after the NSLC pulled American alcohol from its shelves as part of Nova Scotia’s response to the trade war with the United States, the corporation has no plans to sell any of that product, unlike its New Brunswick counterpart.
Earlier this month, New Brunswick Liquor began selling the $3.4 million of U.S. alcohol remaining in its inventory.
For the NSLC, the Crown corporation has about $14 million in U.S. products in stock, which is defined as goods made, manufactured and/or produced in the U.S.
This excludes some products that people may perceive as American, such as Budweiser. For example, the Oland brewery on Halifax’s Agricola Street is part of the global brewing company Anheuser-Busch InBev. Beers such as Budweiser and Bud Light are brewed there.
Similarly, Coors has several breweries in Canada, including one in Moncton, NB.
And if you’re wondering why “The Spirit of New Orleans,” Southern Comfort, remains on NSLC shelves, it’s because it’s produced and bottled in Montreal.
Department of Finance spokesperson Rachel Boomer said the province has not decided what it will do with the stored American alcohol.
But non-tariff measures, such as keeping American alcohol out of stores, will remain in place, for now.
“We are open to reviewing them if they are useful to the Canadian team in negotiating a longer-term trade agreement with the United States,” he wrote in a statement.
American alcohol remains unavailable for sale at retailers, bars and restaurants in much of Canada as part of how different provinces have responded to tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump in early March.
Trump has also angered many Canadians with his talk of Canada becoming the 51st state of the United States.
None of the American alcohol stored by the NSLC has been discarded over concerns about its perishability, a spokesperson told CBC News.
In Quebec, the provincial liquor board, SAQ, said in August it was preparing to destroy about $300,000 worth of American alcohol, but the province’s finance minister later said the alcohol wanted to It will be donated to foundations for charitable events and used for training at Quebec hospitality schools.
Impact on American alcohol producers
The American boycott of alcohol by many provinces has hurt some American alcohol producers.
U.S. spirits exports to Canada “plummeted” 85 percent in the second quarter of 2025, with the U.S. Distilled Spirits Council calling the situation “very concerning” as consumers in key international markets opt for alternatives to American-made products amid trade tensions. Sales to Canada fell below $10 million during the quarter.
While exports to countries such as the United Kingdom and Japan fell 29 percent and 23 percent, respectively, the largest decline occurred in Canada. These countries, together with the European Union, It accounted for 70 percent of US spirits exports in 2024.
This led the council’s chief executive to “urge the president to help facilitate a lasting return to tariff-free trade with our long-standing trade partners to ensure the continued growth and vitality of this great industry,” he said in a news release.
In late August, Brown-Forman, the parent company of alcohol producers such as Jack Daniel’s and Woodford Reserve, said sales to Canada fell 62 percent during the first fiscal quarter of 2026, which ended July 31.
Local and Canadian products see an increase in sales
The absence of American alcohol on NSLC shelves has been good for local and Canadian producers.
From March 4 to Sept. 15, Nova Scotia spirits and wine sales increased 24.2 per cent and 15.1 per cent, respectively, compared to the same period a year ago.
The NSLC also said Canadian sales of wine and whiskey increased 8.9 per cent and 8.5 per cent, respectively, compared to the previous year.
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