Neugebauer Statement on WTO COOL Ruling

Today, the World Trade Organization (WTO) again ruled against the United States on USDA’s mandatory country of origin labeling (COOL) requirements. Today’s final decision by the WTO on USDA’s mandatory COOL requirements once again underscores that this flawed rule must be repealed. COOL adds no meaningful improvement to food safety and instead costs the livestock and meat industry approximately $2.4 billion in added compliance costs.

Furthermore, if Canada and Mexico follow through on their increase in tariffs on U.S. exports, it will cost a broad array of American industries billions more. This protectionist trade policy does little to benefit economic growth or food safety in North America. Congress should use this opportunity to repeal mandatory COOL requirements for beef, pork and chicken once and for all, and I look forward to working with Chairman Conaway and members of the House Agriculture Committee to do so.