Ottawa, Ont. — Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, Ed Fast, and Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Gerry Ritz, re-iterated Canada’s conviction that the recent modifications to the United States Country of Origin Labelling (COOL) regulations for beef and pork do not bring the U. S. into compliance with its World Trade Organization obligations. Therefore, to formally launch the consultation process on this enduring trade dispute, the Government of Canada will publish in the Canada Gazette a list of U.S. commodities for possible retaliation.
'Canada’s meat processing industry supports Government of Canada efforts to ensure that international trade rules are respected,' said Canadian Meat Council President Arnold Drung. 'It is critical to the long term interests of both Canadian and American beef and pork producers and processors that international trade continues to take place within the context of a rules-based international framework,' added Drung.
The Canadian and U.S. beef and pork production and processing sectors are critical components of an integrated North American red meat industry that provides a broad selection of high quality, safe and nutritious food products to consumers both at home and to more than 120 other countries around the world.
'The imposition of bureaucratic, costly and unnecessary obstacles that make no contribution to food safety and are of little or no benefit to consumers jeopardizes North American competitiveness in the global marketplace and weakens economic growth, investment and job opportunities on farms and in meat processing facilities across Canada and the United States,' said Canadian Meat Council Executive Director Jim Laws.
Canada’s meat processing industry includes some 400 federally registered establishments, providing not only safe, high quality protein for Canadian consumers, but also adding jobs and making a significant contribution to local economic activity in both rural and urban Canada. With annual sales of $24.1 billion, beef exports of $1.3 billion, pork exports of $3.2 billion and 70,000 jobs, the Canadian meat industry is the largest component of this country’s food processing sector.
The Canadian Meat Council has been representing Canada’s federally inspected meat processing industry since 1919.
Source: Canadian Meat Council
