Source: Tom Johnston, MEATINGPLACE, 5/19/15

With their position against U.S. country-of-origin labeling (COOL) law confirmed Monday by the World Trade Organization, Canada and Mexico said they are seeking authorization to impose retaliatory measures on U.S. exports. Meanwhile, some U.S. lawmakers are pushing to repeal the law.

A WTO panel issued the fourth and final ruling against COOL, again saying the legislation discriminates against Canadian and Mexican livestock and violates international trade law.

“Once again, the WTO has confirmed Canada and Mexico’s long-standing position that the United States’ mandatory COOL requirements for beef and pork are blatantly protectionist and are a violation of the United States’ international trade obligations,” the Canadian and Mexican governments said in a joint statement calling on Washington to repeal the law.

At a press conference this morning, House Ag Committee Chairman Michael Conaway (R-Texas) said he hoped for a House vote in early June on the repeal, according to Reuters.

His committee is scheduled to hold on Wednesday morning a business meeting at which it will consider “a legislative response” to the WTO decision. Conaway has called COOL “a failed government mandate with serious economic implications.”

Texas, for example, could face tariffs ranging from 5 percent to 20 percent on $9.2 billion worth of exports including beef, according to a House ag committee fact sheet.

In June 2013, Canada released a proposed list of targeted U.S. products.

Canada and Mexico have indicated that damages exceed $2 billion, according to the House ag committee.

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