CANADA: Quebec, Nova Scotia remove beer tariffs

By just-drinks.com editorial team | 4 January 2007

Beer can be transported freely between Quebec and Nova Scotia after the two Canadian provinces removed their respective trade barriers, according to local reports.

Local government minister Raymond Bachand said he believes the deal signals Quebec's determination to ease regulations on trade between provinces.

"The brewers and microbrewers from now on will enjoy conditions facilitating inter-factory transfers with Nova Scotia, conditions (Quebec) already benefits from with most of the other provinces," Bachand said.

Canadian brewer Labatt Breweries stands to gain financially from the move. Labatt has had to pay around C$2.5m (US$2.1m) a year to ship its Alexander Keith brand from its plant in Halifax, Nova Scotia to Quebec.

A spokesman for Labatt said: "It's good for the whole industry but, for us, Keith's has seen phenomenal growth across Canada but as it's produced at one facility we've had to pay to ship it to Quebec. We see tremendous upside across Canada."

Representatives at the Quebec Brewers Association could also not be reached for comment.

Sectors: Beer & cider