U.S. Challenging Canada on Wine Sales

The U.S. Trade Representative office has issued a trade enforcement action against Canada with the World Trade Organization regarding wine sales in British Columbia.

B.C. currently has rules in place that allow sales of wine on grocery store shelves, but only locally produced, B.C. wine and any imported wine has to be sold at a separate store.

Acting Secretary of Agriculture Michael Scuse says American wines are doing well however they, “Could be doing even better.  In British Columbia the local wines get an unfair advantage because they can be sold on grocery store shelves, while U.S. wines cannot.  The United States simply seeks equal opportunities to market our wines, consistent with Canada's international obligations.

The U.S. Trade Representative’s office has yet to lose a case during the Obama Administration.

For more on the challenge, visit the USTR’s website.

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