The World Trade Organization arbitration panel Dec. 7 found the U.S. Country of Origin Labeling law warrants $1.01 billion in retaliatory tariffs from Canada and Mexico.
Sen. Heidi Heitkamp, D-N.D., says, "When families across the country sit down at the dinner table each night, they want to know where the meat they're eating comes from. WTO's ruling today signals that we need a compromise - one that maintains country of origin labels, while still complying with trade obligations. Labeling is critical for U.S. consumers and ranchers."
The Voluntary Country of Origin Labeling Act would enable American consumers to know where the meat they buy was born, raised and processed. In May, the WTO Appellate Body found that COOL does not comply with U.S. international trade commitments.
Canadian Minister of International Trade, Chrystia Freeland and Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food issued a statement in opposition of the update on the Dec. 7 COOL policy.
"Country of origin labeling harms Canadian and Mexican livestock producers, as well as U.S. processors and producers. It also disrupts the highly integrated North American meat industry supply chain."
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The officials also stated that if the U.S. Senate did not take action to repeal the law, "Canada will quickly take steps to retaliate."
