Federal Minister Of Agriculture Gerry Ritz has issued his strongest statement yet against U.S. Country of Origin Labeling.
In a joint statement with federal International Trade Minister Ed Fast, Ritz made clear the government would pursue all options available including possible trade retaliation against the Americans.
A list of products imported from the United States that could be targeted for possible retaliation was provided along with that joint statement. The list is a lengthy one that includes live bovine and swine, meat from bovine and swine, cheese, apples, cherries, maple sugar and maple syrup, pasta, bread, pastry, cakes, certain potatoes, frozen orange juice, tomato ketchup and several other items.
Ritz has long been a critic of COOL, which requires U.S. retailers to provide country of origin labeling for items such as beef, pork and lamb. His department has opposed COOL on the grounds that it is unfair to Canadian cattle and hog producers trying to export their product to the United States.
Ritz earlier spoken out against proposed rule changes put forward by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to modify its labeling provisions. In March the United States announced modifications to labeling provisions for muscle cut covered commodities, to require origin designations to include information about where each of the production steps occurred as well as removing the allowance for commingling of muscle cuts.
The changes were brought in with a view towards bringing the United States into compliance with the WTO. But Ritz, MP for Battlefords-Lloydminster, quickly made it known he believed the changes did not go far enough to bring the United States into compliance with the WTO.
With a WTO-mandated May 23 deadline having come and gone, the federal government has now fired its latest salvo in the ongoing dispute with a statement issued June 7.
The joint statement by Ritz and Fast reads as follows:
"Despite consistent rulings by the World Trade Organization, the U.S. government continues its unfair trade practices, which are severely damaging to Canadian industry and jobs.
"Our government is extremely disappointed that the United States continues to uphold this protectionist policy, which the WTO has ruled to be unfair, and we call on the United States to abide by the WTO ruling.
"We are preparing to launch the next phase of the WTO dispute settlement process on the new U.S. rule, which we had hoped to avoid by the United States living up to its trade obligations.
"The Canadian government, with the full support and active engagement of Canadian industry, has fought against this unfair treatment, which is also hurting U.S. industry and consumers.
"When the United States failed to comply by the May 23 deadline, we said we would pursue all options available. Today, we are also releasing a list of U.S. commodities for possible retaliation, to be published as soon as possible in the Canada Gazette, as a way to formally launch the consultation process.
"Our government will continue to consult with stakeholders as we pursue a fair resolution of this issue through the WTO over the next 18 to 24 months. To respect Canada's WTO obligations, our government will not act on these retaliatory measures until the WTO authorizes us to do so."
