The World Trade Organization arbitration panel could announce the retaliatory tariff amounts that Canada and Mexico can implement on U.S. Exports by December 7. “I’m told by trade experts that as soon as December 18, Canada and Mexico could implement those tariffs,” said Senate Ag Committee Chairman Pat Roberts (R-KS).
The actual amount of the tariffs remains unknown. Canada and Mexico are seeking combined retaliation in the neighborhood of $3 billion, but some COOL proponents think the retailaition amount will be around $90 million.
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) has asked the Senate to repeal mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef and pork. In a letter to Senators Roberts and Stabenow (D-MI), NASDA President Greg Ibach, the Nebraska agriculture commissioner, wrote “NASDA believes that there is value in a policy that allows for differentiation of products by providing consumers with COOL information within the U.S. retail food supply.” However, it is imperative that COOL policy be implemented in a manner that ensures the U.S. maintains its obligations under negotiated international trade agreements and avoids retaliatory trade actions against U.S. agricultural products.”
