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COOL Reform Coalition urges compliance first

A coalition of U.S. business groups wants Congress to intervene now that the World Trade Organization has ruled that the USDA’s remedy for Country of Origin Labeling is lacking.

Chuck Connor, president and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives, one of the coalition groups, says without intervening, the standing of the U.S. in its own trade agreements is at stake. A WTO panel found that the COOL rule on muscle cuts of meat violates U.S. international trade obligations. First and foremost, Connor says, is to get the compliance issue fixed…

“And then if we need to have a full and open debate over Country of Origin Labeling that would be considered consistent with what other countries do and what we do for a lot of other agricultural products in our own country, then that debate can occur. But, first and foremost, we’ve got to get in compliance.”

The COOL Reform Coalition – which also includes the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers – says Canada and Mexico will have the chance to retaliate against U.S. goods – if Congress doesn’t act…

“Some of these products could be, for example, cheese from Wisconsin, soybeans from Minnesota, corn from Iowa, orange juice from Florida, cherries from Michigan and Oregon and a whole range of products from almonds to wine in California.”

Iowa Senator Charles Grassley says Congress SHOULD act because “as a member of the world trading community, (the U.S. has) an obligation to be trade compliant, even if we disagree with the rulings.”

AUDIO: COOL Reform Coalition conference call with reporters on October 20, 2014 (30:00 mp3)