Tariffs on aluminum may drive up cost of beer

LANARK COUNTY – The U.S.-imposed ten per cent tariff on aluminum could end up costing you more to buy beer.

The fees slapped on Canada back in early July are making cans more expensive and forcing companies that rely on them to consider price increases and other ways to offset the costs. Whitewater Brewery owner Chris Thompson says the additional tax hits them directly as the majority of their sales are from cans.

Brewmaster Andre Rieux of Cartwright Springs Brewery out of Pakenham says these tariffs add to an already expensive process for his small operation.

Another major factor not a lot of businesses are talking about is the high demand for aluminum cans. Thompson says there is such a shortage they are still waiting to hear from their supplier when they will get a shipment that was supposed to be delivered in July. He says companies placed years’ worth of product orders before the tariffs came into effect, which has caused a major shortage in supply. 

– Courtesy Oldies 107.7