← Back to overview

Active Newfoundland and Labrador Pulls U.S. Alcohol from Store Shelves

Category: 🍺Alcohol
Scope: Provincial Policy
Origin: Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada
Target: US
Response to: US Imposes 25% Tariff on non-USMCA Canadian Imports

Effective: March 04, 2025

Est. Cost: 3 million Canadian dollars annually (based on prior import volumes)

Impacted Jobs: 20 - Minimal impact; local liquor distribution adjusts sourcing with ease

Description:

Newfoundland and Labrador Premier Andrew Furey announced the removal of all U.S.-produced wine, spirits, and beer from liquor store shelves across the province, effective March 4, 2025, in protest of escalating U.S. tariffs on Canadian goods.
Impacts:
  • Removal of U.S. liquor brands from Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation shelves
  • Substitution with Canadian and international alternatives
  • Minor changes in consumer buying patterns
Analysis:

Newfoundland and Labrador's ban is low-cost and low-risk, consistent with Canada’s broader alcohol-focused countermeasures. It signals national unity in trade retaliation without disrupting essential supply chains or provoking domestic backlash. Its effectiveness lies in amplifying collective pressure on U.S. producers across multiple jurisdictions.

Sources: