Statement by Canada and Mexico on U.S. Country of Origin Labelling

Statement

December 9, 2015 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of International Trade, and the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, jointly with Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal, Mexico’s Secretary of Economy, today issued the following statement on the United States’ Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) policy:

“On December 7, the World Trade Organization [WTO] Arbitrator released its report on the economic harm caused to Canada and Mexico by the U.S. COOL policy.

“Since 2011, the WTO has repeatedly ruled that U.S. COOL requirements for beef and pork are discriminatory and are in violation of the United States’ international trade obligations.

“Canada will be able to retaliate in the amount of C$1.054 billion, while Mexico will be able to retaliate in the amount of US$227.7 million, once final WTO authorization is obtained.

“Canada and Mexico recognize that the U.S. House of Representatives repealed COOL for beef and pork last June, and we renew our call on the U.S. Senate to quickly do the same in order to avoid retaliation against U.S. exports.”

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Hon. Lawrence MacAulay Hon. Chrystia Freeland Global Affairs Canada Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Government and Politics Agriculture