The provincial government of Nova Scotia has decided to allow the sale of American alcoholic beverages that have remained off shelves for the past nine months. This sales initiative will continue until the existing inventory is completely sold out. The announcement was made by Nova Scotia’s Premier, Tim Houston, who emphasized the government’s commitment to the "Team Canada approach" amidst ongoing trade tensions with the United States.

In his statement, Premier Houston highlighted the importance of preventing waste, stating, "But Nova Scotians have already paid for this product. We don’t want it to go to waste." The government has identified approximately $14 million worth of U.S.-made products stored in the back rooms of Nova Scotia Liquor Corporations (NSLC) across the province. These products encompass alcoholic beverages that are produced, manufactured, or made in the United States.

Premier Houston also confirmed that once this stock is sold out, the province will not be placing any further orders for American alcoholic products. The government anticipates that the remaining inventory, which includes popular items such as whiskey, will be available for purchase starting on December 1. It is estimated that it will take "several months" to deplete this stock.

Additionally, the net profits generated from the sale of these U.S. alcoholic products will be directed to Feed Nova Scotia and other community food organizations. The government projects that this initiative could generate around $4 million, although this figure may fluctuate depending on the actual sales outcomes.

On March 2025, following the imposition of tariffs by then-President Donald Trump on all Canadian goods entering the U.S., the Nova Scotia government implemented measures that included the removal of all U.S.-made alcohol from store shelves. This response was viewed as a significant move to influence U.S. producers reliant on Canadian markets. A brief period of product removal began in February 2025.

This trade situation has notably impacted the sales of U.S. wines within Canada. According to data from the California-based Wine Institute, American wine sales plummeted by 91 percent in the second quarter of 2025. Reflecting this same trend, sales of liquor and spirits also declined by 85 percent, as reported by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States. Sales figures dipped dramatically from $63.1 million in 2024 to just $9.6 million in the same quarter of this year.