Farms.com Home   News

Cattle & Hog Producers Wait On COOL Decision

A WTO compliance panel has issued a confidential "interim" decision to parties in the case that Canada and Mexico brought against U.S. Country-of-Origin Labeling rules. A finding that the labels constitute an unfair trade practice could lead to punitive tariffs on a multitude of American farm goods and other products exported to the two NAFTA partners. The contention of the US Government is that the labels tell U.S. consumers which countries their meat products come from and are legal under WTO rules.

The chair of the WTO panel has previously said a final report could be expected toward the end of July. The interim report gives the three parties one last chance to comment before the decision is made public.

USDA issued a final version of its new COOL rules in May 2013, just making a deadline set by the WTO for addressing the international body’s earlier finding that the rules unfairly discriminated against livestock raised in Canada and Mexico. Instead of doing away with the labeling requirement, USDA responded by issuing new rules that demand even more information be put on labels, including the locations where each production step occurred.

Farm Director Ron Hays discusses these latest developments on COOL with the lead lobbyist of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, Colin Woodall. Woodall and the NCBA believe it is likely that the WTO will rule against the US in this latest challenge brought by two of our key trading partners, Mexico and Canada.
 


Trending Video

CEOs of the Industry: Dr. Jay Miller, The Maschhoffs

Video: CEOs of the Industry: Dr. Jay Miller, The Maschhoffs

CEOs of the Industry, we sit down with Dr. Jay Miller, CEO of The Maschhoffs, to explore his remarkable journey from veterinary consultant to executive leader at one of America’s largest family-owned pork production companies.

Dr. Miller shares how his outside-in perspective shaped his leadership approach, what it was like transitioning from advisor to CEO, and how he’s balancing the company’s proud multigenerational legacy with the need for transformation and innovation.

We dig into tough topics like navigating company contraction, reshaping culture for performance, and the critical role veterinary expertise plays at the executive level. Dr. Miller opens up about building a sustainable, modern pork business—not just environmentally, but operationally and culturally—and what it takes to attract and develop the next generation of talent in agriculture.

Looking ahead, he shares his five-year vision for The Maschhoffs and gives us a personal peek in the Fast Five round, where he reveals leadership insights, the best advice he’s received, and the three words that define The Maschhoffs in 2025.