The chair of the Saskatchewan Pork Development Board says, in light of yesterday's ruling by the WTO, the hope is U.S. lawmakers will end the discrimination against Canadian livestock and move past Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling.
Yesterday the WTO rejected the final appeal of the United States over rulings that Mandatory U.S Country of Origin Labelling discriminates against imported livestock, in violation of U.S. international trade obligations, opening the door for Canada and Mexico to apply to impose retaliatory tariffs on a range of imported U.S. products.
Sask Pork chair Florian Possberg warns, if we have a trade war, there's a potential for everyone to lose.
Clip-Florian Possberg-Saskatchewan Pork Development Board:
We know that the U.S. consumers care a lot more about expiry dates and nutritional facts.
I think out of 11 items Country of Origin Labelling was way down the list in terms of concerns by consumers.
Americans trust Canadian raised animals as much as I believe they do their home grown ones so this resulted in discrimination.
Source : Farmscape