The WTO has pushed back the date for its decision on whether Canada and Mexico can impose sanctions on the United States because of its meat labeling rules, says the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association in its newsletter. The decision still is expected this fall. “We expect the arbitration panel to announce a new date shortly,” the CCA said.
Canada and Mexico requested permission from WTO for more than $3 billion in retaliatory tariffs on U.S. agricultural and manufactured products during a WTO hearing in September. A ruling was expected by Nov. 27 but the CCA says more time is needed to translate the report into various languages.
Since 2009, the United States has required most cuts of meat to carry labels indicating where the animals were born, raised and slaughtered. The WTO issued a final ruling this year in favor of Canada and Mexico, who said the requirement discouraged imports of cattle, hogs, beef and pork from their producers. Meatpackers and the largest U.S. cattle and hog groups back repeal of the labeling law. The House passed a bill to repeal labeling for beef, pork and chicken during the summer. The Senate has two opposing bills – one would repeal the labeling law, the other would make labeling voluntary.