Statement from ministers of International Trade and Agriculture and Agri-Food on U.S. repeal of Country of Origin Labelling

News Release

March 2, 2016 - Ottawa, Ontario - Global Affairs Canada

The Honourable Chrystia Freeland, Minister of International Trade, and the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, today issued the following statement in response to the United States amending its Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) regulation:

“Canada is very pleased that the U.S. has passed a law repealing discriminatory labelling requirements for beef and pork, and that today the U.S. Department of Agriculture amended the relevant regulations for this change to take effect. We are now reviewing the amendment.

“The World Trade Organization found COOL to be inconsistent with the United States’ international trade obligations, as it discriminated against Canadian cattle and hogs.

“This is a tremendously important development for our farmers and the economies of both our countries.”

Associated links

• Statement from ministers Freeland and MacAulay on U.S. Country of Origin Labelling
• Statement from ministers Freeland and MacAulay on WTO ruling on U.S. Country of Origin Labelling
• Arbitrator issues report in ‘COOL’ case between U.S., Mexico and Canada

Contacts

Alex Lawrence
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of International Trade
613-992-7332
alex.lawrence@international.gc.ca

Media Relations Office
Global Affairs Canada
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media@international.gc.ca
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Oliver Anderson
Communications Advisor
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
oliver.anderson@canada.ca

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
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Hon. Chrystia Freeland Global Affairs Canada Economics and Industry