The World Trade Organization Arbitration Panel is expected to delay its decision on whether or not Canada and Mexico can retaliate against the U.S. over Country of Origin Labeling. That decision was expected to be issued the end of next month. Canadian Cattlemen Association’s Director of Government and International Relations John Masswohl says having the WTO delay its decision is not unusual.
Masswohl hopes the U.S. Senate follows the move by the U.S. House and repeals COOL. He says if that doesn’t happen, retaliation will. Masswohl says if the WTO doesn’t make the November date, it’ll hopefully happen before the end of the year.
He says all the delay does is continue uncertainty for U.S. companies who are on pins and needles expecting some type of retaliation to occur.
When the WTO issues its decision on retaliation it’s also expected to decide upon what level of penalty can be imposed. U.S. officials claim the number is close to $ 91 million while Canada is arguing it’s close to $ 3 Billion.