WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Bakers Association (ABA) is calling on Congress to include full repeal of U.S. country-of-origin labeling (COOL) rules in the omnibus, following today's World Trade Organization (WTO) ruling.
“Our members are already hearing from customers that retaliatory tariffs will force them to take their business elsewhere. It is imperative that COOL Repeal be included in the omnibus spending package before more than $1 Billion in U.S. trade are lost,” said ABA President and CEO Robb MacKie.
Bakers are threatened with a 100 percent tax on baked goods and ingredients according to the list released by Canada, and fear similar retaliatory action from Mexico.
“Hopefully today’s announcement will push the Senate to heed U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Chairman Pat Robert’s (R-KS) call that anything but full repeal of COOL will be crippling to American companies who do business with Canada and Mexico,” added MacKie.
ABA encourages everyone in the baking industry to access its RisetoAction website today and request their senators and representatives to include COOL Repeal in any omnibus spending package.
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About the American Bakers Association:
The American Bakers Association (ABA) is the Washington D.C.-based voice of the wholesale baking industry. Since 1897, ABA has represented the interests of bakers before the U.S. Congress, federal agencies, and international regulatory authorities. ABA advocates on behalf of more than 1000 baking facilities and baking company suppliers. ABA members produce bread, rolls, crackers, bagels, sweet goods, tortillas and many other wholesome, nutritious, baked products for America’s families. The baking industry generates more than $102 billion in economic activity annually and employs more than 706,000 highly skilled people.
Source: American Bakers Association