The new trade agreement between Canada, Mexico, and the United States has drawn mixed reactions across Canada including B.C.

Formally known as NAFTA, the new U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement (USMCA), will directly impact B.C. grocery stores selling wine. 

The new deal spells the end to a policy that allows grocery stores to stock only B.C. wines, effective as of Nov. 1, 2019.

“Specifically, B.C. shall eliminate the measures which allow only B.C. wine to be sold on regular grocery store shelves while imported wine may be sold in grocery stores only through a so-called ‘store within a store,’ and such contested measures shall not be replicated,” reads the letter from United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.

There are 29 grocery stores in the province that only sell B.C. wines.

The BC Liberals under former Premier Christy Clark announced in 2015 special licences that allowed only B.C. wines on grocery store shelves as part of the modernization of the liquor laws.

With files from the Canadian Press.