Source: Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE, 3/26/15

The National Pork Producers Council urged Congress on Wednesday to change U.S. mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) law to avoid trade retaliation from Canada and Mexico.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled last fall that the meat labeling law violates U.S. international trade obligations by discriminating against Canadian cattle and pigs and Mexican cattle.  

The United States appealed that decision, and the WTO is expected to rule on it by May 18. If the WTO rejects the appeal, Canada and Mexico would be allowed to place retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports, including pork and beef.

“We cannot afford to have [pork] exports disrupted nor can workers in allied sectors,” NPPC President-elect John Weber, a pork producer from Dysart, Iowa, told the House Agriculture Subcommittee on Livestock and Foreign Agriculture. “The loss of the Mexican and Canadian markets, valued at $2.4 billion, could cost over 16,000 non-farm jobs.”

Mexico and Canada would be sure to retaliate against beef and pork. Canada’s preliminary retaliation list included fresh pork and beef along with many other agricultural food products, threatening the U.S. economy overall.

“Congress must be prepared to repeal the offending parts of the statue to bring the U.S. into compliance with WTO rules,” said Weber. “Congress should not allow retaliation against pork producers and other sectors of the U.S. economy.”

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