Posted on 05/19/2015 6:27:34 PM PDT by rickmichaels
Canada vowed on Tuesday to give the Americans a taste of their own medicine by making it harder for the U.S. to peddle its wares in the Great White North.
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and Trade Minister Ed Fast said they plan to enact "retaliatory measures" against U.S. exports after winning a meat-labelling dispute at the World Trade Organization on Monday.
The WTO upheld a complaint by Canada and Mexico that U.S. laws -- which require retailers to label meat with the country where the animal was born, raised and slaughtered -- discriminate against imported livestock.
"The WTO has been clear -- the United States administration must end its discriminatory ... policy that is causing hurt to beef and pork industries on both sides of the border," Ritz said Tuesday.
"Our government is now seeking authority from the WTO to impose retaliatory measures against United States exports. We will continue to defend the interests of our cattle and hog sectors while protecting all hardworking Canadians through this process."
Canadian sanctions could affect U.S. beef, pork, wine, cherries, pasta, ketchup, cereal, corn, furniture and more, Fast and Ritz said.
The threat aims to put pressure on U.S. lawmakers to repeal meat-labelling regulations, which Canadian beef and pork industries say add to expenses and have cut livestock exports, driving some farmers out of business and costing them more than $1 billion a year.
"We call on the U.S to cease this harmful policy and restore our integrated North American supply chain, benefitting businesses and workers on both sides of the border," Fast said.
Republicans, who have a majority in Congress, have signalled they may act to repeal the laws as early as this week, but consumer groups and many Democrats say the laws provide essential information for shoppers.
Lori Wallach, Public Citizen's global trade watch director, said the WTO ruling "effectively orders the U.S. government to stop providing consumers basic information about where their food comes from."
People really won’t buy meat if it’s marked ‘from Canada’?
Let them make the decision for themselves.
Would someone please tell me what's wrong with such a law? It simply requires that information be stated about where certain actions took place. Facts. Let the consumer decide from there.
Now, Mexico and Canada will be sneaking the pregnant cows across the porous border to produce anchor calves with US credentials.
That is funny
lol
“People really won’t buy meat if it’s marked ‘from Canada’?”
Maybe U.S. consumers think “This product has been frozen”.
Any politician that votes against that will NEVER have my vote.
I would like to know from where my food is imported. I’m not concerned with food from Canada; I am concerned with food from cesspool countries. What does Canada have to be concerned about with labeling if their food products are safe?
If Canada and Mexico wish to label meat as being from the US - go right ahead.
“If Canada and Mexico wish to label meat as being from the US - go right ahead.”
Don’t have to label it - the fat on U.S. beef and chicken is yellow as...uh...corn.
Undocumented beef.
When it crosses the border is an act of love.
“from mexico”
How can labeling be discriminatory?
Are they thus admitting that their products are substandard?
If their meats were of a known high quality, the label would be advantageous, as for example New Zealand’s superior grass fed lamb, which commands higher prices than US lamb.
.
Excellent example.
That is a key issue for sure.
I don’t want any part of grain fed meats. They’re loaded with enzyme inhibitors that render them undigestible.
Grass fed meats, on the other hand actually have more omega 3 fats than deep water fish.
Labeling is everybody’s friend.
.
FU Canada.
I want to know where ALL my food comes from.
I don't want to buy fresh, canned, or frozen fruit, vegetable and meat products from non-USA sources.
If my grocery store doesn't have any frozen berries from the USA, I'm not going to buy any frozen berries.
You might put a frozen product from a third world country in your blender to make a smoothie, but I won't.
And no, I won't knowingly consume ANY Tyson meat products, even if it's labeled from the USA.
Let Canada and Mexico sell their products to each other, China, and to the rest of the world. If it's good and safe, they can command a high price.
They should look to market their meats to the EU.
Where goat is sold as lamb, and horse meat is sold as beef. Screw the WTO!
Looks like Canada is F’ing themselves.
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