The World Trade Organization has once again ruled against the U.S. country of origin labeling requirements for beef and pork. This is the fourth time the WTO has ruled against the United States.
The WTO has consistently found the U.S. program to be non-compliant with WTO rules. With this ruling, Canada and Mexico will be allowed to impose retaliatory tariffs later this year.
Congressmen Mike Conaway (R-TX), chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, and Jim Costa (D-CA), ranking member of the House Livestock and Foreign Agriculture subcommittee, plan to introduce legislation, possibly this Wednesday, to repeal COOL requirements for beef, pork and chicken. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, has said that the USDA has done everything it can regarding COOL and it will be up to Congress to resolve the issue.
