Canada is looking at possible retaliation over the WTO decision this week that favored them and Mexico over the U.S. rewritten Country of Origin Labeling law. Canadian Cattlemen’s Director of Government and International Relations John Masswohl says much of when or if the retaliation occurs rests with the U.S. He says their problems with COOL have to do with marketing and not with consumers right to know where their products come from.
Masswohl says the earliest that Canada and Mexico would be able to ask for authorization to retaliate wouldn’t be until the summer of 2015. He also says if the U.S. Congress decides to try and fix COOL in order to reach WTO compliance they need to consult with Canada.
Masswohl says if the U.S. Congress is interested in rewriting COOL, it must be done in a way that the discrimination problem involving meat and livestock products is addressed.