Halifax, N.S. — More than seven months after pulling American-made alcohol from its shelves, the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation (NSLC) still has about $14 million worth of U.S. products sitting in warehouses — and no plan to sell them anytime soon.
The decision stems from Nova Scotia’s response to the Canada–U.S. trade dispute that erupted in March, when President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on Canadian goods. In solidarity with the federal government’s counter-measures, Nova Scotia joined several provinces in removing American alcohol from retail stores and bars.
NSLC stockpiles remain untouched
While New Brunswick Liquor (ANBL) recently began selling its remaining $3.4 million inventory of American alcohol, Nova Scotia has taken a different path.
The NSLC defines the restricted stock as products made, manufactured, or produced in the United States — excluding certain brands consumers might associate with the U.S. For instance:
Budweiser and Bud Light are brewed in Halifax at Oland Brewery, part of the global Anheuser-Busch InBev network.
Coors Light is brewed at several Canadian facilities, including one in Moncton, N.B.
Southern Comfort remains on NSLC shelves because it is produced and bottled in Montreal.
According to Finance Department spokesperson Rachel Boomer, the province has yet to decide the fate of the stockpiled products but said the non-tariff restrictions will remain “for now.”
“We are open to reviewing them should it be helpful to Team Canada when negotiating a longer-term trade deal with the U.S.,” Boomer wrote in a statement.
No products discarded or expired
An NSLC spokesperson confirmed that none of the stored American products have been discarded and that the corporation is managing the stock to avoid spoilage.
In contrast, Quebec’s Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) initially planned to destroy about $300,000 worth of U.S. alcohol but later announced the products would instead be donated for training and charitable events.
Economic fallout for U.S. distillers
The provincial bans have taken a toll on American producers. According to the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States, U.S. spirit exports to Canada plummeted 85 per cent in the second quarter of 2025, falling below $10 million USD.
The council called the sharp decline “very troubling,” noting that Canada, along with the U.K., Japan, and the EU, represents nearly 70 per cent of U.S. spirit exports.
“We urge the President to help facilitate a lasting return to tariff-free trade with our longstanding partners,” said the council’s CEO in a statement.
The impact has been significant for major producers such as Brown-Forman, parent company of Jack Daniel’s and Woodford Reserve, which reported a 62 per cent drop in Canadian sales during its first fiscal quarter of 2026.
Local producers benefit from boycott
While U.S. distillers face losses, Nova Scotia’s own producers are enjoying a surge in sales. Between March 4 and September 15, the NSLC reported:
Nova Scotia spirits up 24.2% year-over-year
Nova Scotia wines up 15.1%
Canadian wines up 8.9%
Canadian whisky up 8.5%
The boost has been welcomed by small distillers and wineries across the province, who have struggled in recent years with pandemic-era slowdowns and rising costs.
Future uncertain for trade and shelves
For now, Nova Scotians won’t find American bourbons, whiskeys, or tequilas in NSLC stores or restaurants — a policy that continues to symbolize Canada’s resistance to U.S. tariff pressure.
While the federal government has hinted that future negotiations with Washington could ease trade restrictions, the Nova Scotia government says it will wait for national guidance before making changes.
Until then, those $14 million worth of bottles — once destined for Nova Scotian shelves — will stay packed away in NSLC storage, silent symbols of an unfinished trade dispute and a shifting liquor landscape that’s benefitting local producers instead.
