- U.S. President Donald Trump imposed new tariffs on Canadian goods, including wine, on Monday.
- On Tuesday, premiers of nine provinces, including B.C., signed an agreement to allow direct-to-consumer alcohol sales.
- B.C. plans to allow direct-to-consumer sales by February 2027.
- The B.C. wine industry is facing challenges due to new U.S. tariff threats while also seeing potential benefits from a new interprovincial trade agreement.
- Doug Bell, owner of Northern Lights Estate winery, expressed cautious optimism about the agreement, stating it is great news for B.C. wineries.
- Jeff Guignard, president and CEO of Wine Growers B.C., noted that while an agreement has been signed, there is still a long way to go in establishing the legal framework.
- James Donaldson, CEO of B.C. Food and Beverage, called the agreement a great step but emphasized the need for broader access to markets across provinces.
- The B.C. government reported that the province exports between $1 million and $3 million worth of wine globally, with $200,000 to $700,000 heading to the U.S.
- Bell warned that a 50 percent tariff could make B.C. wine non-competitive in the U.S. market.
British Columbia's wine industry faces uncertainty as new U.S. tariff threats loom, potentially imposing a 50 per cent tariff on Canadian wines. Doug Bell, owner of Northern Lights Estate winery, warned that such tariffs would make B.C. wines 'non-competitive for the medium and long term.'5610
In response, the premiers of nine provinces, including B.C., signed an agreement to facilitate direct-to-consumer sales across provincial borders, a move that B.C. wineries have long sought. Bell expressed cautious optimism, stating, 'It’s great news, B.C. wineries have been asking for this for many, many years.' However, he cautioned that 'the devil is in the details,' as the regulatory framework remains unclear.2
Jeff Guignard, president and CEO of Wine Growers B.C., emphasized the need for a streamlined process, saying, 'Just permit a customer to order a Canadian product from a Canadian producer and ship it across the borders.'7
The B.C. government estimates that the province exports between $1 million and $3 million worth of wine globally, with $200,000 to $700,000 of that heading to the U.S. James Donaldson, CEO of B.C. Food and Beverage, called the agreement a 'great step,' but urged for broader access to liquor store shelves across provinces. B.C. aims to allow direct sales by February 2027, but the timeline for other provinces remains uncertain.389
“The agreement, still in principle, lets provinces set their own markups, risking a regulatory patchwork. A 50% U.S. tariff would price B.C. wine out of the market, though owner Doug Bell says it likely won't force immediate closures.”
