Canada keeps WTO option open on U.S. meat rules PDF Print E-mail
Written by LNC   
Wednesday, 18 February 2009

OTTAWA (Reuters) – Canada stands ready to revive a trade complaint against the United States should Washington reinstate country-of-origin meat labeling rules that Ottawa considers protectionist, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said on Tuesday.

"Should the Obama administration continue on with protectionism and country-of-origin labeling, we will then reignite our WTO (World Trade Organization) challenge," Ritz told reporters on a conference call.

Canada agreed to shelve its WTO complaint last month after the government of George W. Bush revised U.S. rules to allow greater flexibility on labeling of meat sold in U.S. grocery stores. Ritz said the complaint remains off the shelf as "the Obama administration goes back and makes sure that the Bush administration didn't leave any landmines in any of these deals."

(Reporting by Louise Egan; editing by Rob Wilson)
 

Trackback(0)
Comments (2)add
feedSubscribe to this comment's feed
0
...
written by Senator Paul Muegge , February 19, 2009
Smoke and mirrors, smoke and mirrors, yes the WTO-trade agenda has a crack in it and the multinationals are determined to get their way. This is just more propaganda to discourage sovereignty. We need to explain to these idiots, this is not about protectionism, this is about transparency and having the guts to standup and have an honest debate.
report abuse
vote down
vote up
Votes: +1
0
WTO governs America
written by ahyu , February 18, 2009
Putting a label on a rump roast that says the meat came from Canada is protectionist? What a joke!

Just like I want to know the ingredients in my food, I also want to know where it comes from.

The WTO dictates I'm not allowed to know where my ground chuck comes from? You've got to be kidding!

Tell the average American that the WTO has this kind of authority over the United States and 90% would be in full agreement that the US should leave the WTO.

If a purely domestic rule like country-of-origin labeling is against the WTO rules then we should immediately drop out of the WTO.

Why? It reveals the real hidden agenda of trade agreements, and that is backdoor usurping of American's democratic rights.

This is the real reason multi-national corporations love trade agreements: they provide a means to get the legislation they want while bypassing Congress and the American people.

How can the WTO treaty even be Constitutional if it takes away our rights for self-rule?

report abuse
vote down
vote up
Votes: +1
Write comment
smaller | bigger

busy
 
< Prev   Next >
[ Back ]

Related Articles

In the news

March 2-4, The Coalition for a Prosperous America

Legislative Fly-In

CPA will hold its Second Annual Legislative Fly-In on March 2-4, 2010.  This is a powerful opportunity for us to work together to advance trade reform in the halls of Congress.  We need to bring the concerns of the grass roots to our legislators.

This is efficient advocacy, well worth your time.  We make all the meeting arrangements with legislators or their staff, we put together materials, we plan a message, and we pack meetings together in a concentrated period of time.  You make a bigger impact with your time using only three of the 365 days in the year.

Click here to sign up for the CPA Fly In.

CPA has a special offer--limited time only: the first 50 registrants get a free copy of Ian Fletcher's new book: Free Trade Doesn't Work.  This is a highly acclaimed book about trade policy and the needed changes therein. 

Agenda:

March 2, 2010:  2p to 6p - Group meeting for training, talking points and team assignments

March 3-4, 2010:  Hill visits

Place:  Capitol Skyline Hotel, 10 I ("Eye") Street SW, Washington, DC 20024

Once you sign up with CPA, reserve your room at the Capitol Skyline Hotel by calling 202.488.7500.  You should book for the evenings of March 2 and March 3. 

If you have questions about the events, please call Sara Haimowitz, Development Coordinator, at 413-203-1410 or email at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it