Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling: Will COOL Make Come Back?
Thursday, December 1, 2016
  • Mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) rules for beef products have long been the subject of controversy and challenge, culminating in a World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling that the COOL requirements violate U.S. trade obligations to Canada and Mexico and Congress repealing COOL as of December 21, 2015.

  • With a new administration taking office this January, some are hopeful that COOL might be brought back to life in a potential renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The Rancher’s-Cattlemen Action Legal Fund (R-CALF), for example, has already called on the new administration  to restore and preserve U.S. ranchers’ ability to compete in the market by using mandatory country-of-origin labeling (i.e., COOL).  At the same time, members of the new administration’s Agricultural Advisory Committee have reportedly hinted that COOL stands no chance of being reinstated.

  • Considering the trade implications associated with reinstating COOL, it remains to be seen how COOL will fare going forward.

 

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