COOL Repeal Legislation Update

With retaliation from trading partners Canada and Mexico looming over the Country of Origin Labeling issue, NCBA Vice President of Government Affairs Colin Woodall gives an update on the status of COOL repeal legislation.
Woodall: “It has been made very clear to us by both Canada and Mexico that they have full faith that the numbers that they have submitted to the WTO are ones that will be approved. As soon as they get the okay from the WTO, they will commence retaliation against the U.S. beef industry and many other industries that they have outlined as potential products to have a tariff placed on that product as it is imported into Canada. Now everyone needs to understand that a tariff is basically a tax. For beef we are looking at a 100 percent tax on our product. That will in effect shut down the trade that we have with Canada which continues to be one of the top five markets for the export of U.S. beef. That is unacceptable to us. Especially after such a strong vote in the House, where we had 300 House members vote to repeal COOL. Now we need the Senate to take similar action to prevent this retaliation that we know is coming.”