Forum Discussion

briansue's avatar
briansue
Explorer
May 18, 2015

Border imports

This is not a post to take sides or start arguments. It is intended for informational purposes only. We often see posts wondering why certain items or confiscated at our borders – north or south. Trade restrictions lead to trade sanctions and tariffs. Anyone interested can probably research this further.


Mon May 18, 2015 11:30am EDT
UPDATE 2-U.S. loses WTO appeal in meat label dispute with Canada, Mexico
(Adds reactions from beef and pork producers, background on Congress)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/18/usa-meat-idUSL1N0Y90SL20150518

By Krista Hughes

May 18 (Reuters) - The United States has lost a battle with Canada and Mexico over its meat labeling rules, the World Trade Organization said on Monday in a ruling that backed calls to scrap the laws or risk costly trade retaliation.

The WTO panel said the United States must bring its country-of-origin labeling (COOL) into line with global trade laws, rejecting the nation's appeal against an earlier ruling that the requirements illegally discriminate against imported livestock.

The move opens the door to multibillion-dollar trade sanctions against the United States, although U.S. lawmakers have signaled they plan to act to repeal the rules as early as this week.

The labeling rules, which advocates say give consumers critical information about where their meat comes from, require retailers such as grocery stores to label meat with the country where the animal was born, raised and slaughtered.

The U.S. rules have resulted in fewer Canadian pig and cattle exports since 2009, according to the Canadian government. Canada has already published a hit list of potential U.S. targets, including wine, chocolate, ketchup and cereal.

"Unless Congress acts now, Canada and Mexico will put tariffs on dozens of U.S. products," said National Pork Producers Council President Ron Prestage. "That's a death sentence for U.S. jobs and exports."

Republican Michael Conaway, who chairs the House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, said last week that he was working on legislation to repeal the labeling laws.

Conaway's office says the rules have no impact on food safety and that estimates show they cost the livestock and meat industry billions in compliance costs.

The main beef producers' association agreed that Congress must act quickly.

"We have long said that COOL is not just burdensome and costly to cattle producers, it is generally ignored by consumers and it violates our international trade obligations," said National Cattlemen's Beef Association President Philip Ellis.

But R-CALF USA, a small but vocal lobby group for U.S. cattle producers, said Congress should stand firm.

"Anything less would be an unconscionable surrender of U.S. sovereignty," R-CALF Chief Executive Officer Bill Bullard said.

U.S. Trade Representative Chief Counsel Tim Reif said the ruling was disappointing, although he noted the panel did not find the labeling requirements to be excessively restrictive.

"We are considering all options going forward, and will continue to consult with members of Congress and interested members of the public regarding possible next steps," he said. (Reporting by Krista Hughes; Additional reporting by Theophilus Waters in Chicago; Editing by Susan Heavey and Lisa Von Ahn)
  • This has been going on for 5 to 7 years.The US has refused to abide by the trade agreements and now have run out of appeals. This is not the first time, think Mexico trucking, shrimp and tuna for a start. All banned in the US, contrary to Trade Agreements they signed. Every single time they were found guilty by the WTO.
    The historic thing about this is it is the first time Canada and Mexico have worked together in a trade problem against the US.
  • I find it funny that a guy has an opinion on Cattle is referenced as R-Calf
  • While I find it interesting to know where my meats come from I cannot see what great benefit it is other than creating more govt bureaucracy.
  • I hope this means I can bring back Mexican Tyson Cordon Blues back into the US. Best I have ever tasted.
  • It will be nearly impossible to keep up with the regulations, you have the various government agencies, then you have the various states and last but not least you ave the individual aduanero and all interpret the can import, can NOT be imported differently.

    Each aduana and aduanero is an entity on its own when going south, it is a bit easier going North, US Customs are a bit more consistent.

    The importation in to the USA depends on the Lobby's of the cattle growers, tomato growers, avocado growers, lemon growers, the Department of Agriculture, you start to get the complexity of the research.

    I would suggest that those that have items confiscated report them with the point where they crossed, Nuevo Laredo, Nogales, Etc, and what items where taken and the time of the crossing if it was early in the morning, just before lunch time or close to dinner.

    With all this information we can establish what the aduaneros needed for breakfast, lunch or their dinner, then we will avoid traversing the border bfore their breakfast, lunch or dinner but go after, unless they are having a big party and we are not invited then we are out of luck.

    navegator