American Meat Institute Deems Mandatory COOL a Violation of Trade Obligations

The American Meat Institute (AMI) has apparently submitted comments to the Office of U.S. Trade Representative contending that country of-origin labeling (COOL) requirements violate U.S. international trade obligations. According to AMI, the nation’s “credibility is undermined when U.S. legislation violates America’s commitments” under international agreements. AMI claims that the COOL requirements “are not consistent with U.S. obligations” under World Trade Organization (WTO) and North American Free Trade Agreement obligations or the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

The organization apparently characterizes COOL as “de facto discrimination against foreign products, a result even contemplated by sponsors of the legislation who declared that it would be ‘helpful to a lot of American agricultural producers’ and force companies to rely ‘on our independent producers here in this country.’” Canada and Mexico have asked the WTO to rule on the legality of the COOL law. See AMI Press Release, January 8, 2010; meatingplace.com, January 11, 2010.