Canada Requests WTO Compliance Panel Regarding U.S. COOL Regulations

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August 20, 2013

According to a statement released by Ed Fast, the Minister of International Trade, and Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Canada has requested a World Trade Organization (WTO) compliance panel to address concerns in U.S. Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) practices. Canada considers the COOL provision requiring goods to be labeled with the specific country where each animal was born, raised, and slaughtered as overly burdensome and in non-compliance with the WTO Agreement on Technical Barriers to Trade.  The specific U.S. COOL regulation pertains to beef, poultry, lamb, goat, some nuts, vegetables, and frozen fruit products. 

The Canadian government commented, “Despite consistent rulings by the WTO, the U.S. government continues its unfair trade practices, which are severely damaging to Canadian industry and jobs.” Canada requested the WTO place the COOL issue on the agenda during next Dispute Settlement Body, scheduled for August 30, 2013.

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