Saskatchewan to Permit Sale of Canadian-Made Beer Under US Brands

Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe speaks to the media in Regina on March 22, 2023. The Canadian Press/Heywood Yu

The Government of Saskatchewan is permitting the sale of Canadian-made beer is packaged under U.S. brand labels after some pushback from retailers.

The province decided to remove U.S. alcohol from shelves in response to tariffs announced by President Donald Trump on March 5. The move followed other provinces, including Ontario and B.C., that made the same decision.

However several organizations, including Beer Canada and Restaurants Canada, called on the government to permit drinks sold under U.S. labels but made in Canada, such as Bud Light, Corona, and Coors.

On March 24, the government changed its mind, according to a news release by Beer Canada.

The Epoch Times attempted to contact the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) but did not hear back by publication time.

Beer Canada said it welcomed the government’s decision.

“This policy shift immediately reinstates the sale and distribution of Canadian-produced beer brands, benefiting Saskatchewan’s distributors, retailers, hospitality businesses, barley farmers, and Canadian brewers across the country,” the Beer Canada news release said.

It noted the decision was consistent with other provinces, which focused on alcohol from the U.S.

President CJ Helie said in the face of tariffs it is important to support Canadian businesses, workers, and farmers across the country.

“Canadian brewers are proud to be a true Canadian industry, with 88 percent of all beer consumed in Canada made here in Canadian breweries, by Canadian workers, using local ingredients including Saskatchewan barley,” he said.

“The identified beers are all made by largely unionized Canadian workers in Alberta, British Columbia, Ontario, and Quebec using Canadian ingredients,” Beer Canada said.

Restaurants Canada said the government’s decision to prohibit sales of U.S. branded alcohol would hurt restaurants.

The policy affects some of restaurant patrons’ most popular choices, including “iconic Canadian beer company brands that play a crucial role in the restaurant industry, where beer accounts for roughly 50 percent of alcohol sales,” it said in a March 21 post on the X platform.

Sask Tariff Response

Saskatchewan halted the purchase of U.S. alcohol on March 5, preventing liquor stores from purchasing U.S. inventory although allowing them to sell whatever American alcohol they already had.

The move was in response to 25 percent tariffs imposed on Canadian imports by Trump, who also put a 10 percent tariff on energy and a 25 percent tariff on aluminum and steel. He is also considering reciprocal tariffs on countries, although he has paused tariffs on items that fall under the USMCA trade agreement until April 2.

Saskatchewan also directed the provincial Lotteries and Gaming Authority (LGA) to find other sources for the $43 million worth of VLT and slot machines that will need to be upgraded this year. The machines usually come from the U.S.

“The United States has always been Saskatchewan’s largest and most important trading partner, but when they attack our economy, we have to push back,” Saskatchewan Premier Moe said at the time. “Our goal is to end these tariffs and retaliatory measures as soon as possible so that we can resume our long standing, mutually beneficial relationship.”

The Saskatchewan government said it expected department and agencies to prioritize buying Canadian items first.