Trade Ruling Against Alberta Beer Mark-up Levels the Playing Field for Saskatchewan Brewers

June 11, 2018

The Government of Saskatchewan is pleased with a recent decision by a trade panel regarding Saskatchewan and Canadian brewers.

The Government of Saskatchewan supported Artisan Ales, a Calgary-based beer importer, as an intervener in the original panel and appeal process.

“We are very pleased with the decision which confirms that Alberta’s beer market distorting policies unfairly discriminate against Saskatchewan and Canadian brewers,” Trade and Export Development Minister Jeremy Harrison said. “We call on the Government of Alberta to immediately comply with this ruling, as they have promised, ensuring that brewers from our province and the rest of Canada can compete fairly with Alberta-based brewers.”

The panel, under the Agreement on Internal Trade, upheld a decision made in August 2017 which stated that the Government of Alberta’s Small Brewers Development Program operated contrary to its free trade obligations.

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For more information, contact:

Deb Young
Trade and Export Development
Regina
Phone: 306-787-6315
Email: deb.young@gov.sk.ca

NT4