Copyright Chris Jackson, Getty Images
Industryweek 8782 Canadian Flag G
Industryweek 8782 Canadian Flag G
Industryweek 8782 Canadian Flag G
Industryweek 8782 Canadian Flag G
Industryweek 8782 Canadian Flag G

Canada to Retaliate Against US Over Country-of-origin Labeling

May 19, 2015
Monday's appeal victory in the quarrel, which pitted Canada and Mexico against the United States, marked a final decision "without the possibility of further appeal," said Ed Fast, Canada's minister of international trade.

OTTAWA - Canada will pursue retaliatory trade measures against the United States over what it says are discriminatory labeling practices, following a win Monday before the World Trade Organization.

The dispute centers on a U.S. regulation in place since 2009 which requires that certain product labels must include an item's country of origin.

Canada, which said that the measure adversely affects its pig and cattle breeders, successfully challenged the regulation before the WTO.

America's largest trade partner had previously fought the so-called COOL (country-of-origin labeling) rule at the WTO, saying it discriminated against Canadian products, and won. 

But Washington tweaked the regulation to circumvent the ruling.

Monday's appeal victory in the quarrel, which pitted Canada and Mexico against the United States, marked a final decision "without the possibility of further appeal," said Ed Fast, Canada's minister of international trade.

The WTO reaffirmed "Canada's long-standing position that these measures are blatantly protectionist and discriminate against Canada," Fast added.

"In light of the final ruling, and due to the fact that the United States has continued to discriminate against Canadian livestock products, Canada will be seeking authority from the WTO to use retaliatory measures on U.S. agricultural and non-agricultural products," he said.

Canada could slap duties on a multitude of US goods that range from fruits and chocolates to cereal, jewelry and wooden furniture. 

"Our government stands on the side of Canadian farmers and ranchers, and we will continue to protect all hardworking Canadians throughout this retaliatory process," Fast said.

Copyright Agence France-Presse, 2015

Popular Sponsored Recommendations

Empowering the Modern Workforce: The Power of Connected Worker Technologies

March 1, 2024
Explore real-world strategies to boost worker safety, collaboration, training, and productivity in manufacturing. Emphasizing Industry 4.0, we'll discuss digitalization and automation...

3 Best Practices to Create a Product-Centric Competitive Advantage with PRO.FILE PLM

Jan. 25, 2024
Gain insight on best practices and strategies you need to accelerate engineering change management and reduce time to market. Register now for your opportunity to accelerate your...

Transformative Capabilities for XaaS Models in Manufacturing

Feb. 14, 2024
The manufacturing sector is undergoing a pivotal shift toward "servitization," or enhancing product offerings with services and embracing a subscription model. This transition...

Shifting Your Business from Products to Service-Based Business Models: Generating Predictable Revenues

Oct. 27, 2023
Executive summary on a recent IndustryWeek-hosted webinar sponsored by SAP

Voice your opinion!

To join the conversation, and become an exclusive member of IndustryWeek, create an account today!