Agricultural News
NCBA Urges Senate to Repeal COOL, Before Retaliation Starts
Fri, 26 Jun 2015 16:17:33 CDT
Some agricultural groups believe Congress shouldn't be so quick to repeal the U.S. Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) law and rather wait for arbitration to work its way through. National Cattlemen's Beef Association Vice President of Government Affairs Colin Woodall responded by saying that's not a good idea. He believes COOL needs to be repealed this year, before those arbitration numbers are set.
"If we don't get it done this year, than we can expect retaliation anywhere from two to five years, while the WTO looks at what action Congress may take in the future," Woodall said.
If Congress can act before retaliation starts, then Woodall said there is a very good chance that Canadians and Mexico will drop this case and the U.S. will be able to maintain trade relations with both of these countries. However, if retaliation takes place first, then Congress acts, then it's a different situation. Woodall said that means the U.S. will have to go through the entire World Trade Organization (WTO) dispute settlement process, which could take two to five years.
"During that process, we will be retaliated against, so we are going to be harmed economically as a country," Woodall said. "Not just as the beef industry, but from all industries that are on the list."
The U.S. House has already passed legislation to repeal COOL. This week, the U.S. Senate Ag Committee held a hearing on COOL, so Woodall said NCBA is trying to make their message known about what's at stake, if Congress doesn't act quickly because there are financial implications on the horizon. He said retaliation would stay in place while the WTO is deliberating any changes Congress makes.
Some agricultural groups have stated there has been little economic harm to Canada and Mexico, because of the COOL labeling law. That's according to a study conducted by Dr. Robert Taylor of Auburn University. Woodall said Dr. Taylor's research has limited credibility because of past work he has published and his figures have been questioned. So that's why this study on COOL has not gained much traction. Woodall also thinks the Senate and House have also finally realized there are no other opportunities for the United States to change COOL, so it's time for repeal.
Radio Oklahoma Network Farm Director Ron Hays featured Colin Woodall on the Beef Buzz feature. Click or tap on the LISTEN BAR below to listen to today's Beef Buzz.
The Beef Buzz is a regular feature heard on radio stations around the region on the Radio Oklahoma Network- but is also a regular audio feature found on this website as well. Click on the LISTEN BAR below for today's show- and check out our archives for older Beef Buzz shows covering the gamut of the beef cattle industry today.
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