The COOL reform coalition wants Congress to step in and fix the U.S. Labeling law to bring it into compliance with WTO rules. This week the World Body ruled in favor of Canada and Mexico and found U.S. COOL non compliant and trade distorting. Coalition member, Chuck Connor, President and CEO of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives says without compliance the U.S. not only faces trade retaliation but also possible loss of markets.
John Bode, President of the Corn Refiners Association and coalition member says USDA’s rewrite of COOL was worse than what was in place before and now Congress needs to act immediately.
In their decision, the WTO upheld consumers right to know where their food comes from but said the U.S. is in violation of world trading rules and is discriminating against livestock from Canada and Mexico.