The United States is disputing figures put forth by Canada and Mexico regarding economic damage to their red meat industries caused by U.S. country of origin labeling.
Canada has said the American legislation has cost about $3 billion and is seeking that much in damages through tariffs on a list of goods still being considered by the World Trade Organization. Mexico has estimated damages of about C$750 million.
However, the United States Trade Representative told the WTO arbitrator that Canada deserves US$43.22 million as compensation for economic damage from COOL.
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The figure it described for Mexico was not immediately available. The 47-page U.S. brief was filed July 30.
In its letter to the WTO, the U.S. refers to “a flawed economic methodology that severely overestimates the level of nullification or impairment attributable to the country-of-origin labeling measure.”
The WTO is scheduled to consider the matter Sept. 15 and 16 in Geneva.
The USTR’s brief is a response to a May WTO ruling that U.S. COOL legislation violates international trade rules. Both Canada and Mexico have sought authorization to impose tariffs on various U.S. goods unless COOL is scrapped or somehow amended to become trade compliant.
