Dive Brief:
- According to a new report from Auburn University researchers, country-of-origin labeling (COOL) did not have a significant negative impact on U.S. meat exports.
- The lack of negative impact came three-fold: no difference in price paid for domestic versus imported cattle, no impact on imported versus U.S. feeder cattle, and no negative effects on imported cattle meant for immediate slaughter.
- This report flies in the face of the World Trade Organization's ruling in a dispute with Canada and Mexico that "the labeling rules unfairly discriminate against meat imports and give the advantage to domestic meat products."
Dive Insight:
This report lends a hand to the U.S. in its appeal of the WTO's decision on COOL. The COOL Reform Coalition has demanded that the U.S. be kept in check for international trade compliance so that Canada and Mexico do not fight back against imports from the U.S.