COOL Appeal Process Puts US Industry at Greater Risk of Retaliation, Say Traders

More than 100 U.S. companies and trade groups pushed members of Congress on Oct. 30 to immediately give the Secretary of Agriculture authority to revoke portions of the U.S. country-of-origin labeling regime for meat muscle cuts, while emphasizing that a World Trade Organization appeal increases the likelihood that Canada and Mexico will retaliate against U.S. goods. Since the WTO sided with Canada and Mexico in the dispute on Oct. 20, industry has increased pressure to change the COOL laws (see 1410200033). The U.S. has 30 days to appeal the ruling from the Oct. 20 ruling. “While there is an opportunity for the United States to appeal this decision, final adjudication should occur early 2015,” said the coalition of organizations, which includes the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the North American Meat Association. “At that time, if the Compliance Panel’s original findings are found to be valid, both Canada and Mexico could subject an array of U.S. exports to retaliatory tariffs.” Those organizations comprise the COOL Reform Coalition.