WTO again rules against U.S. COOL

A World Trade Organization panel has rejected Washington’s appeal to an October 2014 ruling declaring U.S. country-of-origin labeling (COOL) law in violation of international trade law, again urging that it be brought into compliance. Meanwhile, U.S. lawmakers are lining up to repeal the legislation as the threat of retaliatory tariffs from trading partners loom. The appellate body’s report issued today is the WTO’s fourth and final ruling against COOL, which requires U.S., Canadian and Mexican livestock to be segregated from birth and identified on meat labeling. Canada and Mexico have led a charge against the measure at the WTO, contending mainly that it depresses the value of their livestock. Read More