Crush 2019
Canadian Vineyard and Winery Management Magazine
Canadian Vineyard and Winery Management Magazine
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Cutting ties<br />
USMCA agreement could mean the end<br />
of B.C. wines exclusively on store shelves<br />
By Shayna Wiwierski<br />
A<br />
new international trade deal<br />
now means changes for B.C.<br />
wine on store shelves.<br />
On November 30, 2018, Canada, the<br />
United States, and Mexico signed the<br />
new United States-Mexico-Canada<br />
Agreement (USMCA) which is set to<br />
replace the former North American<br />
Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) that<br />
has been in effect since 1994 (the<br />
agreement still has to go through<br />
the legislative process in Canada,<br />
the U.S., and Mexico). Among many<br />
changes to the new act, B.C. wine<br />
lovers will soon see an expanded<br />
selection of options from outside the<br />
province on store shelves.<br />
Under the USMCA, Canada has<br />
preserved holdovers from NAFTA,<br />
including Chapter 19, which allows<br />
for independent panels to resolve<br />
disputes involving companies<br />
and governments, and Chapter<br />
20, which is the government-togovernment<br />
dispute settlement<br />
mechanism. Canada has made<br />
concessions, including increasing<br />
the quota on foreign imports<br />
into its dairy market and other<br />
supply-managed sectors, allowing<br />
American farmers greater access to<br />
the Canadian market.<br />
So how does that affect the wine<br />
industry? B.C. will be required to<br />
eliminate its rule which allows<br />
only B.C. wines on grocery shelves<br />
(which was originally done in a side<br />
letter to the USMCA) by November<br />
1, <strong>2019</strong>.<br />
Photo courtesy of the<br />
Wines of British Columbia.