There's some optimism that the dispute over US country of origin labeling could be resolved through the development of the new US farm bill.
"They're working on it very hard right now, trying to get their farm bill done. We feel there's a window there to address it," says Canadian Cattlemen's Association president and MacGregor-area farmer Martin Unrau.
World Trade Organization compliance panel hearings are slated for February. The panel will decide whether the US is complying with the original WTO ruling in Canada's favour.
The CCA is also part of a coalition of North American livestock and meat industry organizations that have launched a legal challenge against COOL, with their next court date coming up in early January.
"If we don't get something done through the farm bill, or through the court challenge on January 9th, the WTO is there and we're preparing for that. We believe we have a tremendous case to win again," says Unrau.
If the WTO panel rules in Canada's favour, it would open the door to Ottawa implementing retaliatory tariffs on American products coming into Canada, but that wouldn't happen until mid-2014 at the earliest.
"We might get some whispers coming out (from the WTO panel) by early summer. That's the best that we've heard to this point," says federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz.
Ritz is hopeful COOL will be repealed through the farm bill, and that it won't come down to retaliation.
"We continue to work with them on amendments to the bill, should it ever get to the floor," he notes.
Source: PortageOnline
