By Bruce Cochrane
Canada's minister of International Trade says developments in the U.S. this week offer hope the issue of U.S. Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling will be resolved successfully.
Canada's ministers of International Trade and Agriculture and Agri-Food addressed reporters yesterday following word that repeal of provisions of U.S. Country of Origin Labelling, pertaining to beef and pork, has been included in the year-end funding bill currently awaiting a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives.
International Trade Minister Chrystia Freeland says Canada's goal is repeal of COOL and developments this week are encouraging.
Chrystia Freeland-Canadian Minister of International Trade:
We are cautiously optimistic about what we've seen in Washington this week.
We are working very hard with our U.S. allies and we are going to be in very close contact with them, hour by hour contact, as this process unfolds on Thursday and on Friday.
The earliest vote could come actually in the House on Friday. so we're going to be in close touch with them.
We're very encouraged by the progress that we're seeing.
Our goal is repeal of this legislation.
We are prepared to retaliate if the legislation is not repealed and that is an important piece for people to understand.
I also do want to say that Canada and the United States have always had a close relationship.
Our trading relationship is the most important relationship for both of us.
We're working closely with the U.S. delegation at the WTO.
We have so many shared goals and values and we are very hopeful, thanks to some of the developments this week, that this dispute will come to a successful conclusion.
Freeland applauds the efforts of Canada's allies in the United States who have working toward resolution of the issue and repeal of COOL.
Source: Farmscape