U.S. Country-of-Origin Food Labeling Rules Illegal, WTO Says
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U.S. country-of-origin labeling 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 nations from which cattle, hogs and some fresh produce originate. Canada and Mexico said 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.