Source: Michael Fielding, MEATINGPLACE, 1/9/12

The World Trade Organization has extended a deadline for the United States, Canada, and Mexico to appeal a November ruling that found Washington’s country-of-origin labeling law (COOL) for cattle, hogs and some fresh produce violates U.S. obligations under WTO rules. The three countries have until March 23 to challenge judges’ finding that U.S. requirements break global trade rules.

The WTO Appellate Body’s workload has been cited as the main reason to honor the countries’ requests to extend the deadline.

In its Nov. 18 ruling, WTO said the COOL measure violates a Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) agreement “by according less [favorable] treatment to imported Canadian cattle and hogs than to like domestic products” and because it doesn’t “[fulfill] is legitimate objective of providing consumers with information on origin…”

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