Tuesday, January 15, 2013

M-COOL cost Canadians $1.9 billion


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 Canadian Pork Council is giving the report to the federal government to help it negotiate terms with the United States. 

The World Trade Organization has given the U.S. until May 23 to comply, but so far federal politicians in Washington have done nothing.