Reading Time: 2 minutes CNS Canada –– The seven-year saga of U.S. country of origin labelling (COOL) rules and their adverse impact on Canada’s livestock sector may be nearing its final chapter, but the conclusion still needs to be written. After numerous complaints and appeals with the World Trade Organization, the COOL regulations in place since 2008 have been […] Read more
COOL saga winding down, but not over yet
U.S. seeks arbitration at WTO over COOL-related sanctions
Reading Time: 2 minutes The U.S. government has mounted a new defense at the World Trade Organization for its meat label law, this time seeking arbitration against Canada’s request for trade sanctions. The WTO Dispute Settlement Body (DSB) had been scheduled Wednesday to hear Canadian trade officials’ request to authorize over $3 billion in tariffs on U.S. goods, in formal retaliation […] Read more
U.S. House of Representatives votes to scrap COOL
Reading Time: 3 minutes Washington | Reuters — The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday evening voted to repeal meat labeling laws, which were widely backed by U.S. consumer groups, as Canada and Mexico threaten US$3 billion in trade sanctions. The House voted 300-131 to repeal country-of-origin labeling (COOL) rules on beef, pork and poultry, after the World Trade […] Read more
WTO booked to hear Canada’s COOL tariff case
Reading Time: 3 minutes The World Trade Organization’s Dispute Settlement Body is set to hear Canada’s request in just under two weeks for revenge against the U.S. over country-of-origin labelling (COOL). Canada on Thursday filed its request for authorization of retaliatory tariffs, to be considered at a DSB meeting on June 17, the federal government said. Barring a repeal […] Read more
Canada preparing shorter list of tariff targets in COOL fight
Reading Time: 2 minutes Winnipeg | Reuters — Canada is whittling down its list of U.S. products that it may hit with steep tariffs in retaliation against contentious meat-labeling laws, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said on Tuesday. The Canadian government is likely to target beef, pork, California wines, mattresses, cherries and office furniture, possibly along with other goods, from […] Read more
U.S. bill to repeal COOL advances
Reading Time: < 1 minute Washington | Reuters — U.S. legislation to repeal country-of-origin meat labelling (COOL) laws, which the World Trade Organization found discriminate against Mexico and Canada, passed a congressional committee on Wednesday and moved one step closer to becoming law. The House of Representatives’ agriculture committee approved the bill on a vote of 38-6, clearing the way […] Read more
U.S. lawmaker sees early June vote to repeal COOL
Reading Time: < 1 minute Washington | Reuters –– U.S. House of Representatives agriculture committee chairman Mike Conaway said on Tuesday he expects an early June vote on legislation to repeal U.S. meat labeling laws, to avoid costly retaliation from Canada and Mexico. Canada and Mexico began preparing retaliatory steps against U.S. goods on Monday, after a World Trade Organization […] Read more
WTO panel rejects final U.S. appeal on COOL
Reading Time: 3 minutes Canada is set to ask the World Trade Organization to allow a long list of retaliatory tariffs against U.S. agrifoods and other goods, after a WTO panel shot down Washington’s final defense of its country-of-origin labelling (COOL) law on meat. The WTO Appellate Body on Monday released its report on the U.S. government’s appeal of […] Read more
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 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
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
