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NCBA and R-Calf React to Canadian Complaint

Two U.S. farm groups are reacting to Canada's decision to seek WTO arbitration against the U.S. over mandatory country-of-origin labeling.

The National Cattlemen's Beef Association calls Canada's action unfortunate and fears the WTO decision could result in retaliation against U.S. beef. NCBA Director of Legislative Affairs Colin Woodall says the potential for retaliation is one reason why NCBA has never been in favor of COOL.

"Canada could decide to cut off all imports of U.S. beef into Canada," Woodall said. "Right now they're our number two market and that would have just a huge impact on the bottom line for the cattle market and the cattle industry here in the states."

Woodall says that number one U.S. beef customer Mexico could be right behind Canada in taking WTO action.

"They've also gone through the consultation process that Canada did last year with our government," Woodall said. "They are not satisfied from the results they got from that so we expect the Mexican government to file their official complaint very possibly by the end of the year."

Woodall says NCBA wants USDA to reinstate funding for a USDA-industry study on COOL's costs to beef, pork and lamb producers and processors.

However, R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard charges Canada's complaint shows the U.S. has gone too far in pursuing free trade deals. He also poses the question why should Canada be able to label its goods and not the U.S.?

"Canada does have country-of-origin labeling for some of it's commodities," Bullard said. "There are 48 countries in the world that already have country-of-origin labeling, so the United States is actually behind many of the developed countries already in providing information to consumers about where their food comes from."

  
Bullard says COOL is now doing exactly what it's supposed to do and Canada has no right to interfere with U.S. self-government.