Representatives for Canada’s red meat producers are welcoming the latest WTO ruling on COOL.
The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association says the ruling unequivocally supports Canada’s position that the U-S amendments to COOL continue to discriminate against live imports of cattle and hogs into the U-S.
Both the CCA and the Canadian Pork Council are pushing for Washington to make immediate changes that would eliminate the need for U-S cattle buyers to segregate imported livestock.
Council Chair Jean Guy Vincent says it’s time for the U-S to respect it’s WTO obligations.
He points out this is the third WTO ruling against COOL.
Canadian Cattlemen’s Association President Dave Solverson says our government should prepare to impose prohibitively high tariffs on key U-S exports to Canada until COOL comes into WTO compliance.
A 2012 review estimated the impact of COOL on Canadian cattle and hog sectors was about 1 point 1 billion dollars per year.
However, Canadian officials say that is likely even higher under the amendments the U-S made to those rules in 2013.
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