Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC)
On October 20, the World Trade Organization (WTO) announced that the U.S. country-of-origin labeling of meat violated international trade rules. WTO found that the goal of the labeling program was not illegal, but its implementation presented a trade barrier by treating Canadian and Mexican livestock less favorably than U.S. livestock. The United States has 60 days to appeal.
In response, Western Organization of Resource Councils (WORC) has called on the Obama administration to appeal the decision and urged Congress to resist efforts by labeling opponents to cripple or kill the labeling program and let this trade dispute run its course through the WTO’s appeal process. You can read WORC’s statement by Mabel Dobbs, a Weiser, Idaho rancher, here.
WORC continues to work with allies to keep — and even strengthen — the meat labeling program.
WTO’s decision muddies the water for the Obama administration’s push for “Fast Track” trade authority and two major trade pacts, the Trans-Pacific Partnership and the Trans-Atlantic Free Trade Agreement. Both of these treaties would open the United States to similar attacks on our consumer, health, land use, regulatory permits, environmental and other policies.
Our trade policy should strengthen, not weaken, the health, environment, food sovereignty, working conditions, labor rights, and transparent, competitive market principles of this country and all countries.
There’s more information on trade and WORC’s Trade Bill of Rights on our website.
It’s likely that Fast Track and attacks on country-of-origin labeling will come up in Congress after the November elections. WORC will work to provide the latest news and opportunities to voice public opinion on these issues.
