WTO quashes U.S. 'country of origin' meat labels - The Spokesman Review
The World Trade Organization ruled Monday that U. S. “country of origin” labels on certain cuts of red meat put Canadian and Mexican livestock at a disadvantage, rejecting a U. S. appeal after a similar WTO decision last year. Now that the revised labels also have been struck down, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says Congress will have to change the law to avoid retaliation – such as extra tariffs – from the two neighbor countries. “They either have to repeal (country of origin labeling) or modify and amend it. ”. Though the ruling went against the U. S. , it’s a victory for the U. S. meat industry, which has said the labels are costly because of segregation of livestock and... After the decision, meat processors quickly called for a full repeal of the labeling laws. Canada and Mexico issued a joint statement also calling on the United States to repeal the labeling rules. The joint statement of Canadian and Mexican agriculture and trade officials said the rules cause Canadian and Mexican livestock and meat to be segregated from those of U. S. origin – a costly process that has forced some U. S. companies to stop... The labeling is “damaging to North America’s supply chain and is harmful to producers and processors in all three countries,” the officials said. Source: www.spokesman.com
