North Dakota Stockmen’s urges Congress to repeal COOL

The president of the North Dakota Stockmen’s Association says a World Trade Organization ruling on meat labeling could lead to “crippling tariffs” that will hurt ranchers. The WTO ruled against U.S. labels on packaged steaks and other cuts of meat that say where the animals were born, raised and slaughtered. The WTO said the “country of origin” labels put Canadian and Mexican livestock at a disadvantage. The ruling is considered a victory for the U.S. meat industry, which says the labels are burdensome. North Dakota Stockmen’s President Steve Brooks says the ruling “opens the door for retaliation” that will hurt cattle producers and the broader U.S. economy. Brooks says the Stockmen’s supports labeling, but not through a “faulty, government-mandated approach.” He says Congress must act quickly to repeal the law.  AP