Saint John, N.B.-based Moosehead Breweries is facing six-figure losses every month due to U.S. tariffs, according to president and CEO Andrew Oland. The ban on many Canadian alcohols, set to go into effect Sept. 29, will be another hit to the brewery. “It’s a very complex situation and we’re just trying to take it day-by-day,” he said. Due to 50 per cent U.S. tariffs implemented on Aug. 22, the company is not making any money on shipments across the border, but it has continued to send beer to keep sought-after shelf space. Oland said American sales make up 15 per cent of their volumes. Buy Canadian sentiment has helped, but not enough to offset the losses from American sales. “If we’re shut out of the U.S. for an extended period, that could be really challenging in terms of regaining those lost sales. And that could take years,” he said. A recent Nanos poll found three in four Canadians supported rejecting the U.S. trade deal, while four in five supported or somewhat supported Canadian counter-tariffs. Oland said he has “incredible respect” for Prime Minister Mark Carney. “I have faith in Prime Minister Carney that he and his team are acting in the best interests of Canadians and Canadian businesses,” he said. Across the border in Maine, Patrick Woodcock, president and CEO of the Maine State Chamber of Commerce, said the long-term impact of tariffs remains to be seen. “There is no way that this trading relationship with the level of these tariffs on both sides wouldn’t start to show some significant ramifications if they are retained for weeks,” he said. But despite federal tensions, he said the New Brunswick-Maine relationship goes back decades, and it will persevere after the tariff dispute. “This is a chapter, but we also have many chapters that just reinforce that we have a durable relationship,” he said. For more New Brunswick news, visit our dedicated provincial page.
