News

WTO COOL decision doesn’t favor U.S.

Top Story IconThe World Trade Organization has ruled that the U.S. has not done enough to change its meat labeling rules in light of the WTO’s decision on Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) complaints brought by Canada and Mexico.

The countries complain that the rule treats Canadian and Mexican livestock exports to the U.S. less favorably than U.S. livestock. The WTO ruled in 2012 that COOL unfairly discriminates against those countries and now says the revised COOL rule continues to do that, and is, therefore, illegal.

The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, NCBA, says the COOL rule brings the U.S. “one step closer to facing retaliatory tariffs from two of our largest trading partners.”  The NCBA maintains that COOL is a failed program that will cost the beef industry and the entire U.S. economy while giving no benefits to consumers or producers.

National Farmers Union President says COOL needs to be maintained.  Roger Johnson says, “Under the guidance of USDA, any changes to COOL to ensure full compliance with today’s decision should be able to be made administratively, while maintaining the integrity of COOL labels.”

Johnson says a public opinion poll done last year found that more than 90 percent of consumers support COOL.

  • maybe the United States should not feedout or slaughter cattle from Mexico and Canada, let them feed and slaughter their own livestock in their own country and let them place their own labels on their meat like they do on all their fruits,clothes,lumber,machinery,iron and everything else the import into the USA

Add Comment

Your email address will not be published.


 

Stay Up to Date

Subscribe for our newsletter today and receive relevant news straight to your inbox!