Source: MEATINGPLACE, 12/11/15

Canada and Mexico this week issued a joint statement renewing their call for the U.S. Senate to repeal country-of-origin labeling (COOL) requirements for beef and pork to avoid retaliation.

The countries emphasized they are authorized by the World Trade Organization to impose more $1 billion in tariffs on U.S. goods.

Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts (R-Kans.) told Agri-Pulse that congressional leaders were committed to addressing the issue in a year-end fiscal 2016 spending bill now being negotiated. If the spending talks fail, Roberts said repeal of COOL would be addressed in an emergency bill, according to the news report.

In an interview with RFD-TV, USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack said a voluntary labeling program could be used instead. “They’ve got to end COOL,” he told the network.

The WTO in May ruled the COOL requirements violate U.S. trade obligations. The U.S. House of Representatives in June repealed COOL for beef and pork, but the Senate failed to act on the measure.

New cattle futures rule
Meanwhile, CME Group has amended its delivery requirements for live cattle futures contracts to specify that all cattle delivered must be born and raised in the United States. The amendment is effective Dec. 18.

CME, in a notice, said the change was made to clarify requirements because the timing of U.S. legislation and a final USDA rule repealing COOL is unclear.

CME said over the next several months it would discuss with the industry whether non-U.S.-origin cattle should be allowed for delivery against CME contracts beyond April 2017.

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