Different Views on the issue of Country of Origin

U.S. Cattlemen's Association (USCA) President, Kenny Graner, along with other producers, discussed COOL at the USCA annual meetings in Billings, MT, sharing support for MCOOL in NAFTA discussions, despite skepticism that it could make a comeback. Graner said the priorities outlined by USTR were not meeting the needs of cattle producers. "Any renegotiation of NAFTA must include a path forward on origin labeling. The current trade disparities between the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, won't change unless all factors affecting the situation are addressed. There must be a level and fair playing field when it comes to trade and USCA will continue working toward achieving that as any negotiations moved forward," Graner says. Trade deficit was also a top discussion at the meeting, and Graner argues in a letter to the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, that the lack of MCOOL is partially to blame. "Without meaningful country-of-origin labeling on meat products or strong rules of origin, many consumers who wish to purchase meat derived from animals born and raised in the United States are unable to identify such product," Graner writes. "This deprives U.S. cattle producers of the ability to differentiate their product in the market, and allows meat packers to take advantage of different supply sources while capitalizing on consumer confusion about the source of the food they eat." The growing concern of packer consolidation in the U.S. seems to play a part in both sides of the argument – for and against COOL. "Since 1995, 50 beef slaughter plants have closed, costing thousands of jobs. The U.S. cattle herd is now the smallest it has been since 1941. This is not an industry that has been thriving under free trade," Mike Schultz, R-CALF USA Vice President, points out.---- Go to link for full article