In response to President Trump’s tariff war on Canada, many liquor boards and retailers are taking a stand by removing U.S. products from their shelves. As a proud Canadian, I fully support the idea of shopping local, buying Canadian, and supporting our own economy. However, before making an immediate boycott decision, I urge you to consider a key reality.

While it makes sense to stop ordering U.S. products moving forward, many of the American wines, spirits, and beers currently on store shelves have already been paid for—by both suppliers and retailers like us. These products have been sitting in inventory for weeks, sometimes months, long before these tariffs came into play. Refusing to buy them now doesn’t send a strong message to the U.S. government; instead, it only harms local merchants—your neighbors, friends, and small business owners—who have already invested in these products.

That’s why, as a retailer, our approach is simple: Starting February 4, 2025, we will no longer purchase U.S. products while these punishing tariffs remain in place. But we also ask for your understanding. We hope you will continue to support local businesses—including ours—by purchasing the U.S. products that are already on the shelves. Letting these items sell through naturally ensures that we, as small retailers, can remain financially stable while making the transition to an inventory that prioritizes Canadian and international alternatives.

We’ve seen this challenge before. Take the recent “GST Holiday,” for example. Liquor retailers were required to discount all wines, coolers, beers, and other products to exclude GST. However, the reality is that any stock purchased before December 14, 2024, already had GST paid on it by both suppliers and retailers. Consumers benefited, but once again, small businesses bore the financial burden.

As consumers, we all want to make ethical, well-informed choices. But before boycotting items that were purchased long before this situation unfolded, consider the impact on the local businesses you care about. By allowing these products to sell through naturally, we can transition smoothly to a new selection of Canadian and global offerings—without sacrificing the viability of local retailers.

In a month’s time, there will be fewer U.S. products on the shelves because we won’t be restocking them. But with your continued support, there will still be a thriving local business here to serve you. Let’s stand together in a way that strengthens our economy without unintentionally hurting the hardworking Canadian businesses that are on your side.