(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. livestock: CME live cattle, hogs stumble on supply, demand woes

Reading Time: 2 minutes Chicago | Reuters — Chicago Mercantile Exchange live cattle futures closed lower Monday on concern that supplies might outstrip demand ahead of the U.S. Memorial Day holiday-shortened work week, traders said. Packers bought fewer cattle last week which may have compounded the seasonal supply increase, they said. Cattle numbers are sufficient as grocers and restaurants […] Read more



(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. loses WTO appeal in meat labeling dispute: source

Reading Time: < 1 minute Reuters — The United States has lost its appeal against a World Trade Organization ruling ordering it to bring its meat labeling laws into line with global trade rules, according to a government official familiar with the dispute. In 2011, Canada and Mexico won a WTO ruling that said the U.S. country-of-origin labeling (COOL) rules […] Read more



Australia’s Prime Minister Tony Abbott, shown here at the U.N. in September, is backing plans for a nationwide country-of-origin labelling program. (PM.gov.au via Flickr)

Australia plans country-of-origin labelling after hep A outbreak

Reading Time: 2 minutes Sydney | Reuters — Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott backed plans on Thursday to introduce country-of-origin labelling in the wake of a hepatitis A outbreak, potentially risking contravention of World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. With 18 confirmed cases of hepatitis A linked to consumption of berries sold by Patties Foods Ltd., Abbott said he had […] Read more

(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. ‘intransigence’ continues in WTO COOL hearing: officials

Reading Time: 2 minutes The U.S. government’s defense of its country-of-origin labelling (COOL) rule still shows “blatant protectionism and intransigence” according to Canadian officials at what’s expected to be the law’s last appearance before the World Trade Organization (WTO). U.S., Canadian and Mexican officials appeared Tuesday in Geneva before the WTO Appellate Body, where the U.S. hopes to overturn […] Read more


(File photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

U.S. defense of COOL goes to WTO in February

Reading Time: 2 minutes The U.S. government will have its day at the World Trade Organization next month, as its defense of its mandatory country-of-origin labelling (COOL) laws for retail meat is now booked for an oral hearing. The WTO’s Appellate Body division has scheduled its hearing of the U.S. government’s appeal for Feb. 16 and 17 at WTO […] Read more

(Canada Beef Inc. photo)

U.S. to appeal latest WTO loss on COOL

Reading Time: 3 minutes Canada will have to wait up to three more months before it can impose retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods over Washington’s mandatory country-of-origin labelling (COOL) law on meat from imported livestock. The U.S. government on Friday filed a notice of appeal against the latest ruling by a World Trade Organization (WTO) compliance panel, which last […] Read more


(Photo courtesy Canada Beef Inc.)

COOL as is can’t be patched to satisfy WTO, Vilsack says

Reading Time: 2 minutes U.S. federal officials don’t see a way their mandatory country-of-origin labelling (COOL) legislation can do what it was designed to do and satisfy global trade rules at the same time. U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, speaking Monday on a U.S. Department of Agriculture podcast, said officials “do not think that there is a regulatory fix” for […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

U.S. official urges deal on COOL clash

Reading Time: 2 minutes Washington | Reuters — A negotiated solution is the best way to resolve a trade dispute with Canada and Mexico over meat labeling in the short term, a U.S. official said Monday. A World Trade Organization compliance panel said earlier the U.S. has not done enough to change its country-of-origin labeling (COOL) rules after losing […] Read more