The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association says it’s ”dismayed” that
the United States has not eliminated, but increased, trade discrimination
through its mandatory county-of-origin labeling regulations.
“The new rule does nothing to reduce discrimination against Canadian feeder pigs and slaughter hogs,” stated Jean-Guy Vincent, Canadian Pork Council’s Chair. “The new rule will strip away any flexibility to comingle Canadian and US live swine at processing plants. This will make a very bad situation of the last four years much worse."
“The new rule does nothing to reduce discrimination against Canadian feeder pigs and slaughter hogs,” stated Jean-Guy Vincent, Canadian Pork Council’s Chair. “The new rule will strip away any flexibility to comingle Canadian and US live swine at processing plants. This will make a very bad situation of the last four years much worse."
The U.S. made its decision today, the deadline to comply
with a World Trade Organization ruling that found the COOL regulations were
discriminating against imported beef and pork from Canada and Mexico.
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz says Canada will ask the
World Trade Organization for permission to implement trade-retaliatory
measures, usually meaning tariffs on U.S. products that would result in the
greatest political backlash in the U.S.
It makes one wonder why anybody wants to sign free-trade agreements with the U.S. when it simply bullies trading partners.
Canadian cattle and hog farmers have suffered hundreds of millions of dollars of market damage because the almighty U.S. simply does whatever it wants, regardless of the trade agreements it negotiates and signs.
