Alberta economist Ron Gietz says mandatory country of origin
(M-COOL) rules in the United States have cost Canadians more than $1.9 billion.
The World Trade Organization has ruled that M-COOL is
illegal and has ordered the U.S. to scrap it or face trade penalties that could
be imposed by Canada and Mexico.
The Canadian Pork Council commissioned Gietz, who works as a
livestock economist for Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development, to conduct
the study.
Gietz says there was a $1.5-billion impact on the price of
Canadian market-ready hogs and another $140 million on isowean and feeder pigs.
The World Trade Organization has given the U.S. until May 23 to comply, but so far federal politicians in Washington have done nothing.
