The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Washington recently issued an order that addresses, what R-CALF USA calls, a principal argument contained in the complaints filed at the World Trade Organization against the U.S. country-of-origin labeling law by Canada and Mexico. In its ruling of a suit against USDA, the court held that the COOL law can coexist with, and does not repeal, the preexisting NAFTA marking rules because these rules are for purposes of tariff designation in a customs setting, while the COOL law applies to retail products.
In a memorandum to the office of the U.S. Trade Representative, R-CALF USA says that this court decision will help in the defense of the COOL law against Canada's and Mexico's attack at the WTO. R-CALF USA COOL Committee Chair Mike Schultz says the actions by Canada and Mexico truly are repugnant to U.S. consumers who deserve to know the origins of their food.
The R-CALF USA memorandum states the group is hopeful that this court decision will help USTR in its defense of COOL at the WTO. The memorandum continues that the U.S. Court's sound reasoning should likewise apply to any international authority cited by Canada and Mexico in their ongoing effort to mask the origins of beef derived from their respective country's cattle.
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