In a move fully supported by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association (CCA), the federal government released, on June 7, a list of U.S. commodities that could be targeted for retaliation in relation to the ongoing Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) dispute.
The wide-ranging list of potential items targeted for retaliation will soon be published in the Canada Gazette, marking the formal launch of the next phase of the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement process over the recent U.S. amendment to the COOL regulations.
Implemented on May 23, the U.S. amendment actually increases the discrimination against imported cattle and thereby leaves the U.S. in a position of non-compliance with its WTO obligations.
CCA vice president Dave Solverson lauded International Trade Minister Ed Fast, Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Gerry Ritz and the federal government for their continued tough stance on COOL. Ministers Fast and Ritz have previously indicated that Canada could seek retaliation in the range of $1.1 billion.
The CCA requested that the Canadian government publish immediately a list of retaliatory options for public comment.
The CCA has, to date, spent in excess of $2 million in legal and advocacy expenses to fight COOL.
