The WTO Appellate Body issued its final ruling on May 18, 2015 to the effect that COOL, otherwise known as the U.S. mandatory Country of Origin Labeling, is discriminatory against Canadian cattle and hog imports into the U.S. and is a clear violation of the U.S.’ international trade obligations. The Canadian government has sought the WTO’s authority to move to impose retaliatory tariffs on key U.S. exports. According to Canada’s Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, targeted U.S. imports will likely include pork, beef, California wines, mattresses, cherries and office furniture. The U.S. may be able to avoid retaliatory tariffs if they move quickly to repeal the impugned laws which currently require retailers to list the country of origin on meat. Although U.S. lawmakers seem to have signaled that they intent to repeal the laws, higher tariffs may be in place by late summer if the U.S. doesn’t move fairly quickly.
