WTO Rejects U.S. Appeal on Meat Labeling, Tariff Retaliation From Canada and Mexico Looms

HNGN ^ | May 20, 2015 | Windsor Genova

[Will88]

Anyone care to know where their meat originates? The WTO has ruled that you shouldn't know that, and it when Americans choose to buy American meat, that hurts producers in Mexico and Canada. So, the WTO has ruled, and rejected US appeals, that you should not be provided that information on the meat you consider buying.

[Squawk 8888]

Canada Ping!

[Will88]

This is just one example of how the WTO, and no doubt the TPP and other agreements now being considered, will diminish US sovereignty and reduce the freedom of choice of US consumers. Many nations do not like Country of Origin labels because many Americans choose American food products over imports.

I heard something on radio today. I think some in Congress are about take action to comply with this WTO ruling and stop COOL on US produced meat. Maybe someone has more detail on that.

A story that’s been running for months, but seems to be resurfacing if Congress is ready to comply with WTO.

[Theoria]

House votes to repeal country-of-origin labeling on meat (Republicans repeal country-of-origin)

[cuban leaf]

Tariff Retaliation From Canada and Mexico Looms

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Two can play at that game, though I would not want a trade war. Still, there is a reason we are performing flights over the North China Sea. If you don’t push back, you get pushed over.

[cuban leaf]

The #uniparty strikes again.

[cuban leaf]

Anyone care to know where their meat originates?

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In my case, it’s from my, or my neighbors, pasture. And we rarely eat at restaurants.

It’s one of many reasons I left Seattle. But one of the small ones.

[4yearlurker]

Most of the beef from Mexico is in frozen hamburger patties. It would state on the box what country the beef is from.

[Will88]

Thanks for that. I caught part of that on radio, but then Googled and didn’t find a story on it yet.

[Will88]

Most of the beef from Mexico is in frozen hamburger patties. It would state on the box what country the beef is from.

Not if our government complies with the WTO ruling and makes such labels illegal.

[4yearlurker]

Yes,that's my point.

[sunrise_sunset]

Yes, we are ruled by international courts and committees in direct violation of the Constitution.

[sunrise_sunset]

The will have to comply or face massive tariffs.

[Georgia Girl 2]

This is what happens when we get involved in these trade deals. They always benefit the weakest link to the detriment of the strongest. Now the US public will suffer. If everybody was smart they would just leave the unlabeled meat to rot in the country. There is plenty of local meat you can buy. Its pricier but at least you know where its coming from. That’s what we are moving to. No label of origin we don’t buy it.

[Will88]

No label of origin we don’t buy it.

A good policy. I know that many canned meat products might be imported, but had assumed that most cuts of fresh meat are domestic. Now I'm not so sure. Will have to look more closely.

[Georgia Girl 2]

We many times actually ask the meat guy where stuff is from. They always tell us. If they won’t tell we don’t buy.

Also in the canned goods you will now see on the back of can that it will say “distributed by” instead of “made in” or “produced in” If you can’t tell where it was processed we don’t buy it. Because you almost have to assume its China.

[Oatka]

I posted this elsewhere, but think it needs to be repeated as an indication of just what is ahead for us. It is anecdotal.

We were at gun show in AZ this past weekend and the wife struck up a conversation with a guy who was selling some nice jewelry. Turns out he was a bachelor and somewhat of a gourmet chef, who LOVED cod. So much so that he had an arrangement with the local fish department clerk to notify him when a new shipment came in.

He got a call, went down and picked up a “beautiful” filet. Does his chef thing, takes a bite - and almost vomits. He said the filet was slimy and tasted like algae. Checked with the clerk as to where it came from and the magic word “China” was spoken.

This is our future. We can only hope that the “Raised in USA” companies will see that it is in their interest to still put the American flag on their product. I don’t know if it will do any good, but I’ll write ‘em to that effect. No doubt, at some point, the govt will forbid them to do even that.

[Will88]

This is our future. We can only hope that the “Raised in USA” companies will see that it is in their interest to still put the American flag on their product.

The producers who sell a quality product will still label USA products. It's probably a question of how many of those there are and how long they will be able to compete against cheaper imports.

[bert]

I’m of the opinion that meat to be sold in the US must have USDA inspection.

Likewise, meat exported from the US must also bear a USDA stamp.

That applies to the original packaging and those might be broken down for resale

[Alberta's Child]

I'm with the WTO on this one, but not on the basis of trade regulations.

I think this is largely an academic and meaningless issue anyway. If country-of-origin meat labeling was really all that important to American consumers, we'd insist on having producers label the meat accordingly rather than have Congress pass a law to compel the producers to label it.