By Tyler R. Etter
A date has been set by the World Trade Organization’s
Dispute Settlement Body for the arbitration hearing on Canada and Mexico’s
retaliatory tariffs against the United States in response to Country of Origin
Labeling (COOL). At the request of the parties, the hearing will be open to the
public, occurring on September 15 and 16, 2015.
A decision in May found the mandatory COOL labeling to be in
violation of the United States’ international obligations to Canada and Mexico.
The two nations are seeking over $3 billion in retaliatory tariff measures
against U.S. goods. The U.S. has requested a decision rejecting the proposed
damages, instead setting totals at $43.22 million and $47.55 million.
The U.S. House of Representatives has since passed a bill to
repeal COOL, but the Senate has passed competing measures. One proposal is for
the creation of a voluntary “Product of the U.S.” label, and another would
repeal COOL for beef, pork, and chicken from the surface transportation bill.
Canada and Mexico have already voiced opposition to the
voluntary label, and will proceed if COOL is not fully repealed.
