Premier Holt Rebuffs U.S. Alcohol Restocking Until Cross-Border Softwood Duties Ease

FREDERICTON, NB — Premier Susan Holt announced Thursday night that the Province of New Brunswick will not direct Alcool NB Liquor (ANBL) to restock American spirits and beers on retail shelves until the United States provides verifiable commitments to reduce countervailing duties on Maritime softwood lumber.

Regional Forestry Trade and Retaliatory Leverage

Premier Holt’s declaration establishes a distinct provincial position among Atlantic Canadian leaders, following requests from federal officials to lift provincial liquor boycotts in exchange for broad manufacturing tariff relief in Washington. Holt emphasized that New Brunswick’s private-woodlot forestry sector employs over 24,000 workers and accounts for significant provincial export GDP, arguing that Canadian negotiators must not concede provincial retail leverage without securing permanent timber relief.

Holt stated that New Brunswick forestry producers have operated under unfair U.S. countervailing duties for decades and deserve full inclusion in any comprehensive bilateral trade settlement.

Impact on Regional Retail and Cross-Border Commerce

ANBL confirmed that domestic New Brunswick craft spirits and regional Quebec wines will continue to occupy prominent retail display space across provincial stores.

Forestry trade associations strongly backed the Premier’s stance, pointing out that lumber mill curtailments directly hurt rural northern New Brunswick communities.

Atlantic First Ministers Consultations

Premier Holt will confer with Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland leaders during a regional Atlantic premiers’ call Friday morning.