Tariffs Still Leave BC Wine cheaper for US buyers than Canadian shoppers

Following the announcement of a 50 percent tariff on Canadian wine, Lightning Rock Winery’s Ron Kubek wrote that the duty still leaves his rosés cheaper for U.S. drinkers, at about $30 per bottle, than for buyers in Ontario’s LCBO ($38.17) or Quebec’s SAQ ($43.66). Kubek argued that domestic mark-ups exceed the tariff’s impact. The issue underscores broader interprovincial trade obstacles that the Government of Canada says cost the nation up to $200 billion each year.

Although Prime Minister Mark Carney pledged to dismantle such barriers, liquor distribution remains heavily regulated. Recent premiers’ meetings in Yellowknife and Charlottetown produced a voluntary pact on direct-to-consumer alcohol sales, but it omits retail, lacks a timeline, and is not legally enforceable. Critics, including wine lawyer Mark Hicken, warn the pact could enable new provincial fees, effectively preserving “toll booths” for Canadian products.