Threatening Retaliation & Minimum Wage

Threatening Retaliation & Minimum Wage

Threatening Retaliation & Minimum Wage. I'm Greg Martin with today's Northwest Report.

The WTO has ruled against the U.S. in the Country of Origin case and now Canadian Trade Minister Ed Fast and Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced Canada will be seeking authority to use retaliatory measures on U.S. ag and non-ag products. Congressman Dan Newhouse says they are working to stop that.

NEWHOUSE: Just this morning we passed out of committee the repeal of the COOL legislation to respond to the WTO decision which just came out this week that found for the fourth time that our law is not in compliance and we were trying to be was responsive as possible to prevent - and as quick as possible as well - to prevent the potential retaliatory actions of both Canada and Mexico

Los Angeles has boosted the minimum wage to $15 an hour in one dollar increments over the next five years. The rest of Orange County is looking at the increase as well. Many opponents of wage increases like the ones proposed in Washington State say the increase will drive small businesses and ag operation to cut back on employees or close up shop altogether. Minimum wage earners are obviously excited about the move but some labor groups are upset as well that LA is taking five years to bump the wage instead of making the change all at once.

That's today's Northwest Report. I'm Greg Martin on the Ag Information Network of the West.

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