US Country-of-Origin Food Labeling Rules Illegal, WTO Says

Friday, 18 Nov 2011 12:24 PM

U.S. country-of-origin labelling provisions violate global trade rules and unjustly harm agricultural commerce, World Trade Organization judges ruled, backing complaints by Canada and Mexico.

The U.S. requires food processors to identify the countries from which cattle, hogs and some fresh produce originate. Canada and Mexico argue that the provisions impose unfair costs on their exports, reducing their competitiveness. Judges agreed that the policies meant beef and pork from Canada and Mexico were treated less favorably than the same U.S. products.

Judges recommended in their 215-page report on the Geneva- based WTO’s website that the U.S. be told “to bring the inconsistent measures into conformity with its obligations.â€