WTO rejects U.S. appeal of COOL ruling

The World Trade Organization has rejected a U.S. appeal of its decision that country-of-origin labeling, aka COOL, on meat unfairly discriminates against meat imports and give the advantage to domestic meat products, according to Food Safety News.

With the ruling, the WTO has started a process to determine the level of retaliatory tariffs Canada and Mexico can impose on the U.S. However, the U.S. could avoid such sanctions if it revises or repeals the COOL law.

In February, Canadian Consul General Roy Norton visited Springfield to speak against the COOL law, estimating the damage to the Canadian economy at roughly $1 billion annually.

Signed into law under the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act of 2002 and further expanded and implemented in 2008, COOL requires U.S. retailers to provide labeling on products such as fresh beef, pork and lamb, along with fresh fruits and vegetables, according to Springfield Business Journal archives.

Read more from Food Safety News.