12/03/08 Canada challenges COOL at WTO

Washington Ag December 3, 2008 The Canadian government has filed a trade complaint against the United States at the World Trade Organization over the U.S. country of origin labeling law, or COOL. Canadian cattlemen are pleased with their government's action. John Masswohl, Canadian Cattlemen's Association Director of International Relations, says COOL has impeded Canada's ability to market livestock in the U.S. Masswohl: "Is it discriminatory? I think there is a strong trade case under the trade agreements where it has long been the established principle that the act of transforming live animals into meat has been a substantial transformation. And that concept has been put into the NAFTA. It has been put into the WTO agreements and any law by the U.S. Congress that now says you have to label meat with the origin of the country where the animal was born, is a violation of those agreements." The trade case will begin with consultations between the U.S. and Canada. The U.S. Cattlemen's Association says Canada's action appears premature as the final COOL rule has not yet been published. Another challenge to COOL was made recently when Easterday Ranches of Washington, which has imported Canadian feeder cattle, sued the USDA over the labeling law. I'm Bob Hoff.