House Members Urge Compliance With WTO COOL Decision
The U.S. should revoke its country of origin labeling (COOL) rules if the World Trade Organization deems them non-compliant, dozens of House lawmakers say in a letter being circulated in the chamber. The letter, intended to be submitted to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman on July 25, has garnered more than 70 signatures, confirmed a spokesman for Rep. Rick Crawford, R-Ark. House Agriculture Committee members Crawford and Rep. Jim Costa, D-Calif., are at the forefront of the effort, said the spokesman.
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The retaliatory measures that will be at Canadian and Mexican disposal if the WTO rules against the COOL rules have the potential to severely harm U.S. industry, says the letter. “Canada has already published a broad-based list of proposed commodities and manufactured products from across the United States,” says the letter. “Though Mexico has not published its proposed list, we anticipate it will be just as broad as Canada’s.” The Agricultural Marketing Service finalized the COOL laws for muscle cut meat products in 2009, but the WTO ruled in 2012 that the COOL rules discriminate against cattle and hog imports. AMS made changes to the rules in May 2013 (see 13052317), but Mexico and Canada argue they don't go far enough.
Many industry officials and lawmakers have called in recent months for suspension of the rules over fears they will generate retaliation (see 14063015). “We are aware that the WTO has recently issued a preliminary, confidential determination to the parties, and that the final determination will be released to the public in the coming months,” says the letter. “Should the WTO rule against the United States, we request the administration -- specifically the Secretary of Agriculture -- rescind the final rule while Congress works to permanently resolve this issue.”