The presiding official on the three member WTO panel that issued the ruling calling U.S. Country of Origin Labeling trade distorting is a Mexican citizen. Mexico and Canada are the two countries in dispute with the United States over COOL. The lead panelist is Ricardo Ramirez Hernandez, a former Mexican trade counsel. Patty Lovera, Assistant Director of Food and Water Watch says that group shouldn’t have control over U.S. Laws.
Lovera says the WTO has a specific agenda and is an un elected body. She says Congress is jumping the gun by considering repealing Country of Origin Labeling. She says there’s much to be decided yet in the whole process.
Lovera says the amount of penalty’s over COOL has not yet been determined so there’s no need for Congress to fly off the handle and repeal the labeling law.
