NFU: Canadian COOL Complaint
For Immediate Release: December 2, 2008
Contact: Liz Friedlander, 202-314-3191WASHINGTON (Dec. 2, 2008) – The Canadian government yesterday requested formal consultations under the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement process against the U.S. mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) law for meat products required by the 2008 Farm Bill. The Canadian government alleges the labeling law creates undue trade restrictions.
“U.S. consumers have consistently demanded information concerning the source of the food products they purchase. COOL provides this information in a way that is truthful without distorting or creating barriers to trade,” NFU President Tom Buis said. “I believe Canada is ‘jumping the gun’ in this complaint about mandatory country of origin labeling.”
The law will not be fully implemented for six months and the rules and regulations have not been finalized. COOL does not discriminate against Canada; it does not require Canadian producers, or those in any other country, to do anything that those in the United States will not also be required to do. In fact, according to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), 48 out of 57 U.S. trading partners, including Canada, require COOL on one or more of the U.S. covered commodities.
“I believe the U.S. is in a strong position to defend the law and that it will pass muster with our global trade commitments,” Buis said.
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