Saskatchewan breweries share anxiety in face of U.S. tariffs on steel, aluminum

WATCH: As Sierra D’Souza Butts reports, Regina breweries are trying to handle the uncertainty U.S. tariffs are creating.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s plans to enforce 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum are forcing Saskatchewan breweries to take a closer look at where they import their supplies from.

“It still remains unseen how it’s going to unfold and how it’s going to impact the economy. Ultimately breweries do depend on products that come out of the U.S,” expressed Mark Heise, CEO of Rebellion Brewing in Regina.

Although Trump’s blanket tariffs on Canadian products is set to take effect on March 4, exports of aluminum products will not be taxed until March 12.

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Heise says his business has faced a similar situation in the past and is prepared to source products like aluminum cans outside of the U.S., given the uncertainty.

“The products that we get out of the U.S. are hops, aluminum cans, as well as some of the cardboard packaging,” he shared.

“All of those are somewhat concerning. There were aluminum tariffs and counter tariffs about five or six years ago that created a lot of chaos with the pricing of cans and the availability of cans. We ultimately had to start sourcing some out of Mexico as well as Asia and ordering months in advance, all sorts of things. It puts a lot of strain on us, a lot of stress.”

Rebellion Brewing Rebellion Brewing Company in Regina, Sask. (Sierra D'Souza Butts)

However, one local brewery said the proposed tariffs will not impact its business, as the shop does not rely on aluminum products for their craft beer.

“We’re a brew pub not a micro-brewery. The beer that we package, we do it the same way we did it 34 years ago, just in this big 650 millimeter glass bottles,” explained Grant Frew, bar manager at Bushwakker Brewpub.

“There’s a bottle cap so I don’t think the tariff is going to impact us too much. I guess we’re [an] anomaly.”

Rebellion Brewing Co Rebellion Brewing in Regina, Sask. (Sierra D'Souza Butts)

Frew added that even though his business will be spared the worst effects of the aluminum and steel tariffs, the tax imports will affect brewers as a whole.

“These proposed tariffs are not going to be good for the entire industry. It is going to affect brewing all across the nation, restaurants are going to feel it,” Frew noted.

“We’re just going to have to wait and see how things shake down, but it’s not a good feeling right now. We’re anxious.”

Saskatchewan Breweries Saskatchewan local breweries share their concerns about proposed 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminum products. (Sierra D'Souza Butts)