Browse Data and Analysis

This report highlights the harmonization of specific liquor taxes on alcoholic beverages that took effect on Oct.1st, 2024. U.S. exports of these products are not directly affected, but exporters should be aware of these changes.

The Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) has announced retail price adjustments for beer, effective April 1, 2025, due to changes in the Cost of Service.

On July 25, 2024, the Province of British Columbia announced additional temporary supports for B.C. wineries to support production of the 2024 vintage. These supports enable all B.C. wineries to produce a 2024 vintage using imported wine grapes, juice, and unfinished wines to supplement a short domestic wine grape crop.

The Province of British Columbia announced additional temporary supports for B.C. wineries on July 25, 2024. B.C. wineries will now be able to produce B.C. wines with imported wine grapes and grape juice for vintage year 2024.

On May 24, 2024, the Ontario provincial government announced an accelerated plan to allow sales of wine, beer, cider, and ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages in grocery and convenience stores by the end of October 2024. The initial timeline provided for implementation to begin in January 2026.

In 2019, the EU-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) entered into force. As a result, Japan approved 16 new wine additives that were previously not allowed in wine produced or consumed in Japan.

The Ontario provincial government announced that sales of wine, beer, low-alcohol ready-to-drink beverages, and cider will be allowed in all groceries and convenience stores starting from January 1, 2026.

Japan’s National Tax Agency (NTA) proposed to recognize Single Malt Welsh Whisky as a geographical indication (GI) alcoholic beverage from the United Kingdom (UK).

The U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement (USJTA) entered Year 5 of the agreement implementation on April 1, 2023.

The U.S.-Japan Trade Agreement (USJTA) entered Year 5 of the agreement implementation on April 1, 2023.

This report highlights trends and recent statistics for U.S. origin wine imported into Japan, consumption trends, and opportunities for U.S. exporters.

On April 21, Japan's National Tax Agency opened a public comment period for the Guidelines for Handling Alcoholic Beverages with Organisms Developed with Genome Editing Technology. The public comment period will close on May 25, 2023.