CHAPTER II : DAYS OF PENANCE
Can. 1249 All Christ's faithful are obliged by divine law, each in his or her own way, to do penance. However, so that all may be joined together in a certain common practice of penance, days of penance are prescribed. On these days the faithful are in a special manner to devote themselves to prayer, to engage in works of piety and charity, and to deny themselves, by fulfilling their obligations more faithfully and especially by observing the fast and abstinence which the following canons prescribe.
Can. 1250 The days and times of penance for the universal Church are each Friday of the whole year and the season of Lent.
Can. 1251 Abstinence from meat, or from some other food as determined by the Episcopal Conference, is to be observed on all Fridays, unless a solemnity should fall on a Friday. Abstinence and fasting are to be observed on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday.
You're not quoting the full Canon, and thus missing Canon 1253, which allows Bishops' conference to make modifications to the abstinence rule...which is what they USCCB did in 1966, explicitly stating on Nov. 18, 1966 that American Catholics no longer had to abstain on Fridays and suggesting that American Catholics practice more personal forms of penance and self-denial. This is doctrinally sound pursuant to Canon 1253.
So, you're wrong in stating that American Catholics must abstain from meat on Fridays year round.
See Catholic Lady's post 122 for the full quotes.