Reading Time: 3 minutes Washington | Reuters –– The U.S. House of Representatives on Friday delivered a blow to President Barack Obama’s signature goal of strengthening ties with Asia but could try again as soon as Tuesday to reverse defeat of a measure central to a Pacific Rim trade pact. In a dramatic vote, Obama’s own Democrats, as well […] Read more
Quest for fast-track trade bill defeated for now in U.S. House
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
Fast-track trade legislation passes U.S. Senate hurdle
Reading Time: 2 minutes Washington | Reuters — U.S. President Barack Obama’s signature Asian trade push cleared another hurdle in the U.S. Senate on Thursday after a knife-edge vote moved the White House closer to gaining the power to speed trade deals through Congress. Senators voted 62-38 to give Obama a major victory and set up a speedy decision […] 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
A message from April Stewart, Country Guide's Associate Editor
