Source: Lisa M. Keefe, MEATINGPLACE, 11/5/15


With the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) final report on U.S. country-of-origin labeling (COOL) retaliation now due December 7, the issues seem intractable, despite non-stop conversations among all parties since May, said Sarah Little, communications director for U.S. Senator Pat Roberts (R-Kans.), chairman of the Senate Ag Committee.

Canada and Mexico could implement retaliatory tariffs as soon as 11 days after the decision is announced.

A primary problem is that while some of the die-hard supporters of COOL are long-standing senators, some of opponents, including Sen. Roberts, are equally well-placed. Roberts has said it doesn’t matter if it’s a dollar in retaliation or if it’s $3.2 billion in retaliation, no amount is acceptable, Little said.

Also, while COOL supporters have been unwilling to back away from their demands that the wording including “born, raised and slaughtered,” the Canadian and Mexican governments have been equally adamant that the language be dropped.

Legislation proposed by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) and John Hoeven (R-N.D.) that would make COOL labeling voluntary doesn’t pass the "smell test" with Canada and Mexico, Little warned.

While the value of the retaliatory tariffs has been placed at more than $3 billion, Little said some COOL supporters feel that the figure may be closer to $500 million. The U.S. position is $90 million.

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