More American Protectionism — Not COOL

Canadian farmers and meat processors were shocked to learn on May 23, 2013 that the long awaited U.S. response to the World Trade Organization (WTO) requirement that it discontinue discriminatory Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) for cattle and hogs was to publish a new set of rules that will actually make the situation for Canadians much worse. The new rule is no more trade compliant than its predecessor. This slap in the face to its largest trading partner is yet another example of a longstanding pattern of trade protectionism by the country that lectures the rest of the world on the need for a rules-based free trade system.

From the outset, the original COOL rules put in place in 2008 had a dramatic negative impact on Canadian swine and beef cattle producers. Canadian cattle shipments to the U.S. were reduced by 50 per cent within a year, and export of slaughter hogs was cut by 58 per cent. Canada took the case to the WTO, arguing that the U.S. COOL regime violated