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The U.S. is out of options and out of time
The Canadian government is moving forward with retaliatory measures against the U.S. resulting from the latest WTO ruling on Country of Origin Labeling (COOL).
Canada’s Minister of Agriculture says with the latest ruling the U.S. is out of options and out of time. Minister Ritz says based on calculations of annual damages caused by COOL, Canada will be seeking WTO authorization to take retaliatory action for damages of just over $3 billion a year on U.S. goods.
“I’ve been perfectly clear during meetings here in D.C. that Canada’s retaliation will be real and we expect it to be in effect by late this summer,” Minister Ritz said. “Canada has been clear and consistent in our intention to retaliate should the U.S. continue to ignore its international trade obligations and not fix COOL immediately.”
And by fix, Minister Ritz says a watered down version of COOL is unacceptable.
“Let me restate that a full repeal of COOL is the United States’ only option to avoid retaliation,” said the Canadian Ag Minister.
The number of products subject to retaliation totals 38, a number that Minister Ritz says could grow in the future.
Audio: Canadian Minister of Agriculture Ritz speaking with reporters
Tags: Canada, COOL, country of origin labeling, Trade
What a bunch of COWARDS!!! Everything else you buy has the country it was manufactured in on its label. USA consumers should have the option to see where their food comes from. If you don’t like COOL MR.Ritz, keep you beef in Canada. We can survive just fine without it.