{ "id": "RS22955", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "RS22955", "active": true, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 450550, "date": "2016-03-08", "retrieved": "2016-03-24T16:59:25.773892", "title": "Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods and the WTO Trade Dispute on Meat Labeling", "summary": "Since the final rule to implement country-of-origin labeling (COOL) took effect in March 2009, most retail food stores have been required to inform consumers about the country of origin of fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, shellfish, peanuts, pecans, macadamia nuts, ginseng, and ground and muscle cuts of beef, pork, lamb, chicken, and goat. The rules were required by the 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171) as amended by the 2008 farm bill (P.L. 110-246). COOL for beef and pork resulted in a World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement case with Canada and Mexico that started in 2009 and finally concluded in 2015.\nCanada and Mexico challenged U.S. COOL in the WTO, arguing that COOL had a trade-distorting impact by reducing the value and number of cattle and hogs shipped to the U.S. market, thus violating WTO trade commitments. In November 2011, the WTO dispute settlement panel found that COOL treated imported livestock less favorably than U.S. livestock, and did not meet its objective to provide complete information to consumers on the origin of meat products. In March 2012, the United States appealed the WTO ruling.\nIn June 2012 the WTO\u2019s Appellate Body (AB) upheld the panel\u2019s finding that COOL treated imported livestock less favorably than domestic livestock. But the AB reversed the finding that COOL did not fulfill its legitimate objective to provide consumers with information on origin. The United States welcomed the WTO\u2019s affirmation of the right to adopt labeling requirements to inform consumers on the origin of their meat. Participants in the U.S. livestock sector had mixed reactions, reflecting the ongoing heated debate on COOL.\nIn order to meet a compliance deadline of May 23, 2013, USDA issued a revised COOL rule requiring that labels show where each production step (born, raised, slaughtered) occurred and prohibited the commingling of muscle-cut meat from different origins. COOL\u2019s supporters applauded the revised rule for providing consumers with specific, useful information on origin.\nIn September 2013, a compliance panel was formed to determine if the revised COOL rule complied with WTO agreements. On October 20, 2014, the panel found that the revised COOL rule treated imported livestock less favorably than domestic livestock. The panel confirmed that COOL was a legitimate objective, but could not determine if the rule was more trade restrictive than necessary. The United States appealed the compliance panel findings in November 2014, and the AB heard the appeal in February 2015. The AB report, released in May 2015, again found that COOL violated U.S. WTO obligations.\nOn June 4, 2015, Canada and Mexico requested authorization to retaliate against U.S. imported products in the amount of US$3 billion. The United States objected to the requests, and on September 15-16, 2015, an arbitration panel met to determine the appropriate level of retaliation. On December 7, 2015, the arbitration panel set the retaliation levels at C$1.055 billion (US$781 million) for Canada and at US$228 million for Mexico.\nOn December 18, 2015, Congress repealed the COOL requirements for beef and pork and ground beef and pork in the enacted Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2016 (P.L. 114-113). After the repeal by Congress, USDA halted enforcement of COOL for beef and pork.\nOn December 21, 2015, the WTO authorized Canada and Mexico to retaliate against products imported from the United States. Canada and Mexico stated that they were pleased with the repeal of COOL but will retain the authority to retaliate until they are assured that cattle and hog trade is unimpeded as the repeal of COOL is implemented.\nOn March 2, 2016, USDA issued a final rule that amended the COOL regulations to bring them into conformity with P.L. 114-113. Congressional repeal of COOL for beef and pork and the amended regulations have brought the United States into compliance with its WTO obligations.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/RS22955", "sha1": "0266fde0e0b5c0957f39d6239e15a96f56c11241", "filename": "files/20160308_RS22955_0266fde0e0b5c0957f39d6239e15a96f56c11241.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RS22955", "sha1": "d6799f83155033b080bde9a61dddf3cb40158452", "filename": "files/20160308_RS22955_d6799f83155033b080bde9a61dddf3cb40158452.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [ { "source": "IBCList", "id": 217, "name": "Agricultural Trade" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 2911, "name": "North America: Canada and Mexico" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 3116, "name": "Animal Agriculture" }, { "source": "IBCList", "id": 365, "name": "U.S. and International Trade Agreements" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc689214/", "id": "RS22955_2015Jun11", "date": "2015-06-11", "retrieved": "2015-08-03T15:06:47", "title": "Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods and the WTO Trade Dispute on Meat Labeling", "summary": "This report covers the dispute between the U.S with its neighbors, Canada and Mexico, who say that the recent country-of-origin labeling (COOL) system implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is unfair and does not meet its original objectives. This dispute was brought before the WTO dispute panel and found to be valid. The report ends with a discussion of options for the U.S. in regards to modifying COOL to follow WTO rulings.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20150611_RS22955_7b27babb399f683ff3aa798f8bdec998fcfbed16.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20150611_RS22955_7b27babb399f683ff3aa798f8bdec998fcfbed16.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Agriculture in foreign trade", "name": "Agriculture in foreign trade" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign trade policy", "name": "Foreign trade policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "International trade", "name": "International trade" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Trade", "name": "Trade" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc820695/", "id": "RS22955_2015May22", "date": "2015-05-22", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods and the WTO Trade Dispute on Meat Labeling", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20150522_RS22955_63fc66188e8f49ae8a000ca51f88b648a88107a6.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20150522_RS22955_63fc66188e8f49ae8a000ca51f88b648a88107a6.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc503378/", "id": "RS22955_2015Jan29", "date": "2015-01-29", "retrieved": "2015-04-30T17:37:21", "title": "Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods and the WTO Trade Dispute on Meat Labeling", "summary": "This report covers the dispute between the U.S with its neighbors, Canada and Mexico, who say that the recent country-of-origin labeling (COOL) system implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is unfair and does not meet its original objectives. This dispute was brought before the WTO dispute panel and found to be valid. The report ends with a discussion of options for the U.S. in regards to modifying COOL to follow WTO rulings.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20150129_RS22955_1fb0ca1c5a63ea7383b89b197532eed98a441781.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20150129_RS22955_1fb0ca1c5a63ea7383b89b197532eed98a441781.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Agriculture in foreign trade", "name": "Agriculture in foreign trade" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign trade policy", "name": "Foreign trade policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "International trade", "name": "International trade" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Trade", "name": "Trade" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc276878/", "id": "RS22955_2014Jan28", "date": "2014-01-28", "retrieved": "2014-03-05T18:18:19", "title": "Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods and the WTO Trade Dispute on Meat Labeling", "summary": "This report covers the dispute between the U.S with its neighbors, Canada and Mexico, who say that the recent country-of-origin labeling (COOL) system implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is unfair and does not meet its original objectives. This dispute was brought before the WTO dispute panel and found to be valid. The report ends with a discussion of options for the U.S. in regards to modifying COOL to follow WTO rulings.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20140128_RS22955_938f011d0a1935f6d4f0229ebbcdcd80d0844bae.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20140128_RS22955_938f011d0a1935f6d4f0229ebbcdcd80d0844bae.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Trade", "name": "Trade" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "International trade", "name": "International trade" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign trade policy", "name": "Foreign trade policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Agriculture in foreign trade", "name": "Agriculture in foreign trade" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc228156/", "id": "RS22955_2013Sep16", "date": "2013-09-16", "retrieved": "2013-11-05T18:07:05", "title": "Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods and the WTO Trade Dispute on Meat Labeling", "summary": "This report covers the dispute between the U.S with its neighbors Canada and Mexico, who say that the recent country-of-origin labeling (COOL) system implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is unfair and does not meet its original objectives. This dispute was brought before the WTO dispute panel and found to be valid. The report ends with a discussion of options for the U.S. in regards to modifying COOL to follow WTO rulings.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20130916_RS22955_0c141c6b56d6dcf53983566f7a877351be137fe7.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20130916_RS22955_0c141c6b56d6dcf53983566f7a877351be137fe7.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Trade", "name": "Trade" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "International trade", "name": "International trade" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign trade policy", "name": "Foreign trade policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Agriculture in foreign trade", "name": "Agriculture in foreign trade" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc228155/", "id": "RS22955_2013Jul22", "date": "2013-07-22", "retrieved": "2013-11-05T18:07:05", "title": "Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods and the WTO Trade Dispute on Meat Labeling", "summary": "Report that covers the dispute between the U.S with its neighbors Canada and Mexico, who say that the recent country-of-origin labeling (COOL) system implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is unfair and does not meet its original objectives.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20130722_RS22955_7d91ea74e22671eb5604be6b8cdca5d0622052d9.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20130722_RS22955_7d91ea74e22671eb5604be6b8cdca5d0622052d9.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "International trade", "name": "International trade" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Agriculture in foreign trade", "name": "Agriculture in foreign trade" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Trade", "name": "Trade" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc462023/", "id": "RS22955_2013Apr22", "date": "2013-04-22", "retrieved": "2014-12-05T09:57:41", "title": "Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods and the WTO Trade Dispute on Meat Labeling", "summary": "This report covers the dispute between the U.S and its neighbors Canada and Mexico, who say that the recent country-of-origin labeling (COOL) system implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is unfair and does not meet its original objectives. The dispute was brought before the World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute panel and found to be valid. The report ends with a discussion of options for the U.S. in regards to modifying COOL to follow WTO rulings.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20130422_RS22955_36c0ed4d1c91f4468c15469efcf269561580aa80.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20130422_RS22955_36c0ed4d1c91f4468c15469efcf269561580aa80.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Trade", "name": "Trade" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "International trade", "name": "International trade" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign trade policy", "name": "Foreign trade policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Agriculture in foreign trade", "name": "Agriculture in foreign trade" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc813552/", "id": "RS22955_2012Aug01", "date": "2012-08-01", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods and the WTO Trade Dispute on Meat Labeling", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20120801_RS22955_c8e536f9ecc7913053f03e8e88f9242748eac4e5.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20120801_RS22955_c8e536f9ecc7913053f03e8e88f9242748eac4e5.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc96817/", "id": "RS22955_2012Jul03", "date": "2012-07-03", "retrieved": "2012-08-07T13:52:45", "title": "Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods and the WTO Trade Dispute on Meat Labeling", "summary": "This report covers the dispute between the U.S with its neighbors Canada and Mexico, who say that the recent country-of-origin labeling (COOL) system implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture is unfair and does not meet its original objectives. This dispute was brought before the WTO dispute panel and found to be valid. The report ends with a discussion of options for the U.S. in regards to modifying COOL to follow WTO rulings.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20120703_RS22955_bb8e2d7b1812af0c1c8a43eb63093492d16c9775.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20120703_RS22955_bb8e2d7b1812af0c1c8a43eb63093492d16c9775.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "International trade", "name": "International trade" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Agriculture in foreign trade", "name": "Agriculture in foreign trade" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Trade", "name": "Trade" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc462835/", "id": "RS22955_2010Jul15", "date": "2010-07-15", "retrieved": "2014-12-05T09:57:41", "title": "Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods", "summary": "This report covers the country-of-origin labeling (COOL) system implemented by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Canada and Mexico say that the (COOL) system is unfair and does not meet its original objectives, while Congress is considering legislation that would further expand labeling requirements.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20100715_RS22955_529037127fe9a223105303ca493e0725916aac9e.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20100715_RS22955_529037127fe9a223105303ca493e0725916aac9e.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Trade", "name": "Trade" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "International trade", "name": "International trade" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Foreign trade policy", "name": "Foreign trade policy" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Agriculture in foreign trade", "name": "Agriculture in foreign trade" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc814829/", "id": "RS22955_2009May18", "date": "2009-05-18", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20090518_RS22955_b40d79ccdaeb95e60d547775887a08ac727ed220.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20090518_RS22955_b40d79ccdaeb95e60d547775887a08ac727ed220.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc821536/", "id": "RS22955_2009Jan15", "date": "2009-01-15", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods", "summary": "This report briefly discusses the USDA's FY2006 appropriation, which postpones rules requiring many retailers to provide country-of-origin labeling (COOL) for fresh produce, red meats, and peanuts until September 30, 2008. The report also discusses related legislation.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20090115_RS22955_76254591be31476174f0c93881f2ad446c38f885.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20090115_RS22955_76254591be31476174f0c93881f2ad446c38f885.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Food", "name": "Food" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Food labeling - Law and legislation", "name": "Food labeling - Law and legislation" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Food safety", "name": "Food safety" } ] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc847677/", "id": "RS22955_2008Sep16", "date": "2008-09-16", "retrieved": "2016-06-02T05:26:07", "title": "Country-of-Origin Labeling for Foods", "summary": "This report discusses the 2002 farm bill (P.L. 107-171) as amended by the 2008 farm bill (P.L. 110-246), which states that many U.S. retailers must begin providing country-of-origin labeling (COOL) for fresh produce, red meats, peanuts, chicken, ginseng, pecans, and macadamia nuts.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20080916_RS22955_0cdd749c4473227d65a867b7d5a684ac2689d3a0.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20080916_RS22955_0cdd749c4473227d65a867b7d5a684ac2689d3a0.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Food", "name": "Food" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Food labeling -- Law and legislation", "name": "Food labeling -- Law and legislation" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Trade", "name": "Trade" } ] } ], "topics": [ "Agricultural Policy", "Appropriations", "Economic Policy", "Foreign Affairs" ] }