By Bruce Cochrane
The general manager of Manitoba Pork says support for the repeal of U.S. Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling within the U.S. business community continues to grow.
The world Trade Organization is expected to rule next month on a Canadian and Mexican request for authorization to impose over $3,000,000,000 in retaliatory tariffs on a range of U.S. imports over the issue of U.S. Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling.
COOL and Trade will be among the topics discussed as part of Manitoba Pork's 2015 Fall Producer Meetings, Tuesday in Niverville and Wednesday in Portage La Prairie.
Andrew Dickson, the general manager of Manitoba Pork, points out it's been a very small group in the U.S. that's been supportive of this approach to labelling.
Andrew Dickson-Manitoba Pork:
There's been overwhelming support for the Canadian and Mexican positions by organizations such as the United States Chamber of Commerce, from various farm bureaus from across the United States.
The major cattle and hog producer organizations have come out against Country of Origin Labelling.
The major retail chains have come out against Country of Origin Labelling.
These potential import tariffs will be very disruptive for these complex supply chains that are now in place in the North American economy for a wide variety of goods.
Any sort of disruption in terms of tariffs or inability to sell product will create significant economic hurt, especially in the United States and that's been pointed out very clearly by the U.S. Chambers of Commerce.
The majority of political representatives in the House of Representatives understand that and our hope is that those consequences will be understood by the U.S. Senate.
Dickson stresses the United States is not in compliance with its international trade obligations and the U.S. administration has to deal with that reality.
Source: Farmscape