Newfoundland and Labrador are poised to reintroduce American liquor to local stores permanently, with Premier Tony Wakeham expressing uncertainty about consumer interest in the product. Wakeham revealed that approximately $400,000 worth of American liquor inventory remains on shelves, emphasizing that the decision to support these products lies with individual consumers.
Following a meeting with Canada’s premiers, where Prime Minister Mark Carney provided an update on trade negotiations with U.S. President Donald Trump, it was reported that progress is being made towards finalizing a trade deal by Friday. Carney’s optimism about reaching an agreement led to a request for provinces to reintroduce U.S. liquor as a gesture of goodwill, to which all provinces, including Newfoundland and Labrador, agreed.
In February 2025, Newfoundland and Labrador had removed American liquor from shelves in response to U.S. tariffs. However, in December of the same year, Finance Minister Craig Pardy announced a temporary return of American liquor to clear existing stock, with profits from the sales being donated to the Community Food Sharing Association, totaling $750,000.
The Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation (NLC) confirmed that approximately 11% of the American liquor inventory placed on shelves in December is still in stock. While awaiting guidance from the provincial government on future actions regarding U.S. products, Premier Wakeham indicated that the NLC retains autonomy in making decisions regarding orders and procurement of liquor.
Wakeham emphasized that the NLC holds the authority to decide on their orders, including the procurement of U.S. liquor. He also expressed interest in knowing the remaining volume of American liquor on shelves, highlighting the corporation’s responsibility in this regard.