COOL Archives - Grainews

Editor’s Rant: Product placement

By Dave Bedard April 4, 2024

It’s been many, many years since I was foolish enough to think I might have all the answers. In this space, be prepared to see me asking questions. At the very least — though I’ve also long since given up the idea of ever appearing on Jeopardy! — my responses will often be in the […] Read more

Livestock, Markets

Canada warns VCOOL would sabotage shared Canada-U.S. goals, supply chains

The Canadian government has submitted its views on proposed U.S. food labelling rules

By GFM Network News June 19, 2023

Proposed U.S. country of origin labelling rules run contrary to mutual Canada and U.S. goals to reduce inflation, improve food security and build resilient supply chains, according to a submission from the Canadian government to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. “One of the great strengths of the U.S.-Canada bilateral relationship is the successful integration of […] Read more

Livestock

Meat lobby says U.S. voluntary label rule could spur trade action

Ottawa to review Washington's proposed 'Product of USA' rule

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News March 8, 2023

U.S. meat industry lobbyists say Washington’s proposed new rules governing voluntary ‘Product of USA’ or ‘Made in the USA’ labels would “impose the same standard” as that country’s now-defunct mandatory country-of-origin labelling (COOL) law — and frustrate U.S. packers who import Canadian meat or livestock. The U.S. Department of Agriculture and its Food Safety and […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Livestock, Markets

U.S. congressmen seek revival of mandatory COOL on beef

Bipartisan bill calls for WTO-compliant take on label law

By Dave Bedard, GFM Network News April 2, 2022

A bill that would order U.S. officials to come up with a way to bring back mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) on beef has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. Rep. Lance Gooden, a Republican from Texas, and Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California, on Wednesday introduced H.R. 7291, proposing to restore the […] Read more

Beef Cattle, Hogs, Livestock

Amended CUSMA pact includes anti-COOL clause

By GFM Network News January 4, 2020

The new Canada-U.S.-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), a free trade deal set to replace NAFTA, includes language meant to block any future bids at a trade-disrupting country-of-origin labeling (COOL) law. The new clause would, in theory, checkmate a move made last summer by some Democrat members of the U.S. House of Representatives to have a new North […] Read more

U.S. Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota meets a double-amputee rescue dog at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. on May 21, 2019. (Photo: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst)

Livestock

Rookie U.S. House Democrats call for COOL revival

By GFM Network News June 29, 2019

Several new members of the U.S. House of Representatives who’ve pressed for stronger language on labour and environmental standards in the revised North American free trade deal now also want it to include country-of-origin labeling (COOL) on meat. A letter to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer, dated Tuesday and signed by 27 freshman House Democrats, […] Read more

Columns

A rough ride ahead for Canadian farmers

Politics and trade may well be changing, and they certainly won’t be boring

By Lisa Guenther February 21, 2017

As you may have heard, this year marks the 150th anniversary of Confederation. It’s worth taking stock of where we’ve been and where we are now, and so I’m going to use this space to do just that, on issues important to agriculture and rural communities. I’m tapping out this column a few days before […] Read more

A U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent monitors the Canada/U.S. border near Sweet Grass, Montana, about 100 km southeast of Lethbridge. (CBP.gov)

Beef Cattle, Livestock

Guenther: Canada’s beef export sector waiting, watching

By Lisa Guenther, GFM Network News November 22, 2016

As speculation swirls around U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s promise to renegotiate NAFTA, officials with Canada’s beef industry are taking a measured approach. They’re not ignoring the possibility of trade disruptions in the U.S., said Ryder Lee, CEO of the Saskatchewan Cattlemen’s Association — “but neither are we lighting our hair on fire yet at each […] Read more

Livestock, Reuters

Cattle producers urge trade fight if Trump revives COOL

By Rod Nickel, GFM Network News November 16, 2016

Winnipeg | Reuters — Canadian cattle producers will urge Ottawa to retaliate against the U.S. if the incoming Trump administration imposes a meat labelling program it views as discriminatory, restarting a six-year trade battle, an industry group said on Wednesday. U.S. news network CNN reported on Tuesday that a memo drafted by President-elect Donald Trump’s […] Read more

Cattleman’s Corner, Livestock, Markets

Klassen: COOL may have been ahead of its time

It probably created some economic losses, but more labelling is where food is heading

By Jerry Klassen March 10, 2016

Producers have been asking and I believe it is worth making a few comments about the outlook for markets and domestic prices at auctions and packing plants now that country-of-origin labelling (COOL) is no longer a requirement in the U.S. COOL was done away with in late December 2015 after the U.S. Congress attached a […] Read more

Alberta crop conditions improve: report

U.S. grains: Corn sets contract lows on expectations for big US crop

U.S. livestock: Cattle strength continues

GFM Network News