A blow for country of origin labeling
Northwest Report May 30, 2011 The World Trade Organization has released a preliminary ruling that strikes down the U.S. Country of Origin Labeling law, or COOL. The original complaint was filed by Canada and Mexico in 2009.
National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Vice President of Government Affairs Collin Woodall says although they don’t know all the details yet, they support the ruling as COOL requirements don’t fulfill the stated goal of informing consumers about the origin of meat.
Woodall: “The WTO found in favor of Canada and Mexico saying that the way our country of origin labeling standard is set up it is a technical barrier to trade. Of course that concerns all and concerns us domestically because COOL was something we had hoped would provide a benefit to consumers and producers. We just don‘t think we have seen that.”
The WTO will make its ruling public sometime in September. The United States will then have two months to decide whether to appeal. In the meantime Woodall says:
Woodall: “At the same time it continues to put at risk the relationship with our two biggest trading partners and that is Canada and Mexico, because the way the World Trade Organization works, they provide the opportunity for winners of cases like this to retaliate. So we are going to have to stand by and see what action, if any, Canada and Mexico take and what the next step may be for the federal government once we are able to see the details of this ruling.”
Now today’s Food for Thought with Lacy Gray.
That’s right, bring it on back! In our hearts America has always been and will always be number one. In reality though it’s been quite a while since she could claim the number one spot when it comes to global manufacturing and exports. China has long held that spot. But times, they are a changin’. The almost forgotten “Made in the USA” label holds new appeal for a large portion of consumers, for various and obvious reasons. Foreign upheaval and a rash of poorly made products coming out of china plays a big part in this position reversal, as well as the US now having a large number of unemployed. At the same time that American workers are needing jobs and agreeing to slightly lower wages, Chinese labor costs are on the rise. Some consulting groups are predicting that by 2015 “Made in the USA” will once again mean quality, affordability, and availability to the global market. While this may be an optimistic prediction in the realm of turnaround time, it is not far reaching to say that US consumers as well as global consumers are ready for a change. If the USA once again makes it, they will buy it!
I’m Bob Hoff and that’s the Northwest Report on Northwest Aginfo Net.
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