WTO says we are discriminating against imported foods

[Value Buy]

because we require country of origin labels on imported meat, fish, poultry, and produce products.

news.yahoo.com/canada-mexico-win-wto-nod-1-bn-sanctions-190521614.html

Up to one billion a year in fines for labeling their products with "country of origin" labels.
Whatever happened to consumers knowing where their food comes from?
We see labels of origin on clothing, why not food products?
Myself, I try to stay away from China imported food, as we know many animal food products imported from China literally kill our pets with toxins in the product.

[Opti]

I hope this fails or finds a compromise. I get Mexico being upset, after all they have crappier food safety laws, but Canada?

[Value Buy]

Dec 7, 2015 22:00:02 GMT -5 Opti said:

I hope this fails or finds a compromise. I get Mexico being upset, after all they have crappier food safety laws, but Canada?

Does New Zealand feel it is "discrimination" to have Kiwi's labeled as from New Zealand? Heck no, they advertise it.
This is another example of the world order coming to America.
There is no surcharge or tax added to the imported item.
People around the world should have the civil right of knowing where their food comes from.
They should have the right to know whether wild caught, free range, or gmo free, and where it was raised and/or produced 

[buystoys]

It looks to be discriminatory because of NAFTA from what I understand.  If we didn't have NAFTA, then the labeling rules would not be considered discriminatory.

[Value Buy]

Dec 8, 2015 9:15:45 GMT -5 buystoys said:

It looks to be discriminatory because of NAFTA from what I understand.  If we didn't have NAFTA, then the labeling rules would not be considered discriminatory.

It technically is not discriminatory, because all countRies have to be labeled, as well as the U.S.A.

[Aman A.K.A. Ahamburger]

Dec 8, 2015 21:39:29 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

Dec 8, 2015 9:15:45 GMT -5 buystoys said:

It looks to be discriminatory because of NAFTA from what I understand.  If we didn't have NAFTA, then the labeling rules would not be considered discriminatory.

It technically is not discriminatory, because all countRies have to be labeled, as well as the U.S.A.

Have to remember the US producers were also pushing for this, VB. I'm wondering if food will just say product of North America now??

[buystoys]

Dec 8, 2015 21:39:29 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

Dec 8, 2015 9:15:45 GMT -5 buystoys said:

It looks to be discriminatory because of NAFTA from what I understand.  If we didn't have NAFTA, then the labeling rules would not be considered discriminatory.

It technically is not discriminatory, because all countRies have to be labeled, as well as the U.S.A.

Well, yes, but no.  My understanding is limited, but I believe that some language in NAFTA stated that country of origin labeling would not be necessary due to the complex interactions of businesses crossing borders in North America.  NAFTA passed in 1993 or 4 and the labeling law passed in the early 2000's, I believe.  I think what happened is that Congress did not review all the trade agreements before setting the country of origin labeling law?

The article stated that the WTO ruling is based on the NAFTA language, so I don't expect to see similar issues with other countries.  Unless, of course, we have signed trade agreements that specifically state that country of origin does not have to be on packaging.  Left and right hands need to communicate better on these topics I think.

[Ombud]

So the issue is that a subsequent ruling modified the earlier one and that's not supposed to happen? Is that unilateral or just with Mexican food?

[buystoys]

Ombud, it's for all food produced in North America.

I'm not completely clear, but I think this was a possible scenario:  Someone has a large cattle ranch in Montana.  Due to location, it's more convenient to have the beef processed in Canada.  The labeling has to state that the meats are processed in Canada, but NAFTA had clauses in it that such labeling was not required.  It's an additional burden on the processor as they must keep all cattle separated and switch packaging to process the U.S. originated meat now. 

I haven't really looked into this topic much, but that's my understanding.  Could be wrong, you know! 

[Ombud]

So who has to sign off on modifying the agreement?

[bean29]

I am not too worried about my food originating in Canada or Mexico or being processed in one of those countries. I do not want to serve my family or my Dogs any food that is originating or processed in China.

Lets go renegotiate the trade agreements.

[mroped]

How about we go back to "the old ways" and dissolve all this crapy economical treaties that we have made in the last 25-30 years?
It seems that all they do is hurt our economy: NAFTA moved a lot of manufacturing south, The next one moved them to China and now we are about to enter one that moves them to Indonesia and the Philipines! 
That the jobs were taken away and moved around, we can finally make our peace with it and found ways to cope with but the fact that all these manufacturers pay dirt for labor/ product, make a crapy product and bring it back here to sell it, it kinda ticks me of!
In accordance to the newly created deals, they don't have to pay custom fees for the product which in turn affects our individual tax rates and undercuts the American producers.
If there were custom fees than the American producers would stand a chance in this dog fight. As it is they are priced out of the market.
Yeah, I know that in food production we use a lot of GMO and all sorts of enhancers but what chance does an American farmer stand when he has to keep a low-low price?
If they try the clean way than they would be doubling their expenses.

WTO would have the right to tell us that we can't ask for labels like that but they have to make sure first that people living in Nicaragua or Brazil or China or anywhere else in the world have the same standard of living. In the mean time, we prefer knowing that the beef was raised and processed in USA not China!
we are not the only ones using GMO in food production and if it is I prefer US GMO!

[bean29]

I would actually also prefer to know if my food is GMO.

I can not eat corn, and I suspect it is due to GMO prevalence today.  What about people that prefer to eat a 100% organic diet - are we going to outlaw that info too as it will give one producer a theoretical advantage over another?

I agree with MrOpEd, just scrap the trade agreements and start over.

[fishy999]

Dec 7, 2015 21:24:20 GMT -5 Value Buy said:

because we require country of origin labels on imported meat, fish, poultry, and produce products.

news.yahoo.com/canada-mexico-win-wto-nod-1-bn-sanctions-190521614.html

Up to one billion a year in fines for labeling their products with "country of origin" labels.
Whatever happened to consumers knowing where their food comes from?
We see labels of origin on clothing, why not food products?
Myself, I try to stay away from China imported food, as we know many animal food products imported from China literally kill our pets with toxins in the product.

So ask your political party why they vote against food labeling and go out of their way to keep consumers from knowing what they are eating.  Does the idea of a hamburger made from drug injected cows mixed with non- injected cows make you feel any better?  The idea of a hamburger being made from cow meat from 20 countries mixed and processed make you feel better?  

Eff that- I am eating a cut of meat or forget it- you want a 'nugget' or 'ground' anything- have at it.

Dont forget the Chinese drywall that rotted out copper pipes and poisoned people