United States appeals WTO ruling on country-of-origin labeling

摘要

The United States last Friday filed an appeal against the World Trade Organization's decision in November in favor of Canada and Mexico's challenge to U.S. country-of-origin labeling (COOL) rules.The WTO dispute panel on Nov. 18 concluded that COOL violates several provisions of international trade rules because it affords imported livestock less favorable treatment than domestic livestock. U.S. meat and poultry producers could face retaliatory tariffs from Canada and Mexico if Congress fails to correct the COOL law to comply with WTO obligations (see FCN Nov. 25, 2011, Page 17).