R-CALF USA and the Made in the USA Foundation Inc. have
filed a lawsuit in Denver aimed at keeping Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) trade
barriers against Canadian beef, pork and lamb in place.
They filed the lawsuit against the World Trade Organization,
the U.S, Trade Representative and U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ton Vilsack.
The World Trade Organization has ruled that the U.S. COOL
system is an illegal trade barrier. The U.S. appealed that decision and lost
this summer when the WTO Appelate Body dismissed the appeal.
R-CALF, which stands for Ranchers-Cattlemen Action Legal
Fund, has been a thorn in Canadian beef farmers’ sides for decades, costing
them millions in legal and consulting fees to fight its challenges aimed at
stopping Canadian cattle and beef from entering the U.S. market.
The trade actions have also depressed Canadian cattle
prices, costing farmers far more
than the legal and consulting fees.
Whatever happens to the lawsuit in Denver, it will again
prove costly to Canadian and Mexican farmers who continue to be frustrated in achieving
a fair competitive position in U.S. markets.
