May 23, 2013 - 10:55 AM
OTTAWA - The federal government is threatening "retaliatory measures" against the United States in a dispute over meat labelling that Ottawa and the World Trade Organization consider discriminatory.
The U.S. government has announced new regulations on "country-of-origin labelling" that would track beef and hogs from livestock right through the meat processing and distribution systems.
Canada objects to the labelling system on the grounds that it is costly, burdensome and will lead to the "disintegration" of the North American supply chain.
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz says in a statement that the government is "extremely disappointed" with the regulations today released in Washington.
Ritz says the U.S. regulations will not bring the U.S. into compliance with last year's World Trade Organization ruling, which found the labelling system discriminated against foreign livestock and was not consistent with U.S. trade agreements.
The minister says Canada is considering all the options at its disposal, including "retaliatory measures" if necessary.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2013