LETHBRIDGE — The World Trade Organization has set Feb. 18 and 19 for a public hearing on the United States’ mandatory country-of-origin labelling law.
Canada and Mexico requested the appeal to be heard in Geneva, Switzerland. It could take up to two years to complete.
In a news release, the WTO said public viewing is available via closed-circuit television broadcast. For additional information, visit www.wto.org/library/rss/latest_news_e.xml.
Canada and Mexico requested the appeal after the U.S. Department of Agriculture amended the labelling law last May. It requires complete information on where an animal was born, raised and slaughtered.
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The amended rule tightened up requirements for segregating imported animals at packing plants even further, which the appellants argue discriminate against live cattle and hogs and has cost their industries billions of dollars.
Canada and Mexico first challenged the law in 2009 and won the first round in 2012.
When the amendment was released last May 23, Canada soon published a list of about 30 products for tariff retaliation if the law was not changed.
Canadian politicians have lobbied hard in Washington seeking a change to the law through other means outside the courts. The message has been how this law could ultimately hurt Americans.
“Telling the Americans that COOL hurts Canada does no good. The threat of retaliation is getting attention,” said Verlyn Olson, Alberta agriculture minister.
If legislators realize the listed items could have a negative impact on their state they are more likely to take notice, Olson told the Alberta Cattle Feeders Association annual meeting in Lethbridge Jan. 22.
The latest intelligence is that changes might be made within the U.S. farm bill, but Olson was somewhat skeptical.
The farm bill is complex and there are about 30 contentious issues including management of the multibillion-dollar food stamp program.
“Our issue is probably number 30,” he said.
