Washington, D.C.—“In the wake of a World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling that authorized over a billion dollars in retaliatory tariffs, Congressional leaders have acquiesced to the trade body’s demands for a repeal of popular Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) laws in the United States,” said Thomas Gremillion, Director of Food Policy at the Consumer Federation of America. “Americans want COOL. Ninety percent strongly support it for fresh meat. If members of Congress think the WTO should trump the will of American voters, they should make that clear. There is no reason why the Obama Administration cannot resolve this dispute through negotiations with Canada and Mexico.”
“This policy rider to the omnibus spending bill would target COOL for beef and pork only, but it would set a terrible precedent. COOL laws apply to other foods—from fish and shellfish to fresh and frozen fruits and vegetables and many nuts. This legislation sends the message that Congress will repeal other laws too if another WTO panel orders it to do so.”
“For years, multinational meatpacker and agribusiness corporations tried to convince legislators to repeal COOL, but policymakers listened to their constituents. Now, some members of Congress are claiming that they must heed the demands of an unaccountable foreign trade tribunal. Repealing COOL through a policy rider, rather than in standalone legislation, is a further evasion of accountability. The rider would not only harm American farmers and ranchers, but consumers who have come to expect their food to be properly labeled, as poll after poll has shown.”
Contact: Thomas Gremillion, 202-939-1010
CFA is an association of more than 250 nonprofit consumer groups that was founded in 1968 to advance the consumer interest through research, advocacy and education.