Required Reading: NAFTA and COOL

[Willowcreek]

Some progressive Canadian producers can now see the value in identifying their product- truthfully labeling it for the consumers- and promoting and marketing it...

Telling the consumers the truth on the origin of their food products should be an "automatic" in every country of the world- while only the US and Canada don't have it (US will by the end of the year)- and only a few old Canucks who think they can go back to the "status quo" of 2003 are fighting it....

And they're too dumb/bullheaded to see that it ain't gonna happen--2003 will not exist again....And in the very near future when the Argentine and Brazilian beef are flooding into the country- they will be wishing they had an M-COOL....
An ATTA-BOY to these folks that are looking to improve their marketing ability and be ready for all that comes in the future...

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Quote:
Farmers seek clear definition of 'Canadian'

Last Updated: Thursday, January 24, 2008 | 5:06 PM AT

CBC News - Canada



Labelling on packaged foods will be on the minds of farmers at P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture meetings Friday in Summerside.



Executive director Ian MacIsaac told CBC News Thursday that members will vote on a number of resolutions concerning foreign competition, including asking the government for clear labelling of what is Canadian and what is not.


"We want a better definition of what is product of Canada," said MacIsaac.



"We want it to say, 'Grown in Canada,' and we want it to say 100 per cent of that product that is in the can or in the package was actually grown in Canada."



Currently, product of Canada labelling refers to the value of what is in the package, and because packages can sometimes be more valuable than the produce, a label reading product of Canada can be affixed to food grown in other countries.


The federation will also discuss levelling the field with respect to foreign competition when it comes to food safety standards.



"We want the government to realize, either we are able to use the same production techniques as people outside Canada, or those products aren't allowed in our grocery store shelves," said MacIsaac.



Given hard times for many traditional Island farm products, the meeting will also focus on new opportunities for producers, including new crops such as canola, soybeans or growing sugar beets to be used for producing ethanol.



MacIssac said there are also resolutions calling for more government assistance to help farmers through the current financial crisis.



cbc.ca

[farmers_son]

I have seen that post of yours before. What that refers to is voluntary Country of Origin Labeling and I am sure everyone is in favour of that. It can not be said enough times, Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling, put into place by government with government regulated fines and restrictions is not about marketing, it is about creating non tariff barriers to other countries beef. And given the special live cattle trade that exists between Canada and the U.S. it is very reasonable to suggest that the U.S. is specifically targeting Canada with the new COOL rules. It will restrict Canadian access to U.S. feedlots, packing plants and retail meat coolers.

It has already been pointed out that COOL is not permitted under the NAFTA agreement. The U.S apparently feels that it does not have to live up to the NAFTA agreement.

I remain dumbfounded that the U.S. believes any of their national interests could be served by COOL. If we look to the war in the Middle East and the contribution Canada is making in Operation Enduring Freedom (the war in Afghanistan) I cannot justify in my mind why the U.S. would even consider taking trade actions against an important ally in Afghanistan.

Please see:

http://www.icasualties.org/oef/

As of today, 78 Canadian soldiers have died in Afghanistan protecting American freedom. Why in this world, I mean I just cannot understand it, why in this world are Americans saying Canadian beef cannot be sold in U.S. store yet our young men and women are in Afghanistan right now fighting along side U.S. soldiers. Where is the reason in that. We fight your wars, we sell you our oil and gas, we are your number one trading partner and this is what we get. Maybe the Americans just do not know what is going on.

Please check this out:

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/features/afghanistan/story.html?id=e12d7e64-f615-457a-bb9b-b9d1596eccf1

There have been more deaths since then. Now tell me why Canadian beef has to be kept out of U.S. retail coolers, and tell me why the U.S. government is putting laws into place that will see Canadian live cattle kept out of U.S. packing plants, why U.S. feedlots cannot buy Canadian live cattle because of COOL. Not only were the Americans making money selling our beef and processing our live cattle and this will not happen after COOL but COOL is a slap in the face of the United States number one source of oil and gas and a crucial ally in the war in Afghanistan.

COOL is anti American.

[jensend]

farmers_son i have a question or two for you. do you think the americans did a good job of living up to their trade agreement obligations regarding canadian beef until now or has there been unnecessary footdragging to aid the american packers operating in canada? what will it take to convince you the americans don't take their obligations regarding free trade of beef and cattle seriously? in other words, how much time do you give them to live up to their word and agreements? so far it looks like you and other people who support the abp, cca line say your strategy has worked because it has persisted but that doesn't mean it has been successful. we're now almost five years down the road and billions of dollars of damage have been done because the usa did not keep its word and i see little evidence they ever will. because the american economy is in recession i see them being even less inclined to keep a deal. you might as well realize america is for america and is not your friend.

[grassfarmer]

Why do the Americans act in this way farmers_son? because they can - and because up until now they have got away with it. What we need is a Canadian Government with some backbone to stand up to them. Of course that's not going to happen because so many of our politicians are bought and paid for by US corporate interests. Also how much importance do you think is given to a bunch of western ranchers by Ottawa? Never mind Ottawa look at Alberta - do you think they will "switch off the oil" to help said western ranchers? Looking at their new environmental policy that indicates that they don't give a damn about the future of any Albertans just as long as they can maximise resource extraction (oilsands to sell to the US)indicates to me that our own province has the same problems as Ottawa. Seems like the whole country is set up for resource exploitation by foreign (largely US) corporate interests. Agricultural production will be exploited just as much as oil, gas, minerals, timber, our labour etc.

[farmers_son]

I need to correct something I said in my last post. COOL is not a slap in the face of the United States' number one source of oil and gas and a crucial ally in the war in Afghanistan. It is a stab in the back.

I agree with the tone of Grassfarmers post. The U.S does pursue its best interest in matters of trade and foreign relations. However COOL is not in the American’s best interest. I believe, as many U.S. cattlemen believe, that the U.S. cattleman will see no benefit from COOL but when you consider the bigger picture, trade and foreign affairs, national defense then COOL is clearly not in the U.S. national interest and why in the world is it even on the table.

I think there are U.S. cattle producers who do appreciate the relationship Canada has with the United States. I think there are members of the U.S. administration as well as potential members of the next administration who appreciate the relationship Canada has with the United States. We are talking about a U.S. law when we are speaking about COOL. We need to communicate to these Americans common sense that COOL is not in the United States best interest. I hope we are successful in that.

In the meantime I think Canadian producers need to be talking with their Members of Parliament about COOL. The United States will not be the only NAFTA country having an election in 2008.

[Willowcreek]

QUOTE {{{{{{Executive director Ian MacIsaac told CBC News Thursday that members will vote on a number of resolutions concerning foreign competition, including asking the government for clear labelling of what is Canadian and what is not.


"We want a better definition of what is product of Canada," said MacIsaac.



"We want it to say, 'Grown in Canada,' and we want it to say 100 per cent of that product that is in the can or in the package was actually grown in Canada."



Currently, product of Canada labelling refers to the value of what is in the package, and because packages can sometimes be more valuable than the produce, a label reading product of Canada can be affixed to food grown in other countries. }}}}}}}}


Farmers_son-- You better reread that article...It appears that these Canuck folks are asking for the same thing that US producers and US consumers are asking for...

Asking the government for a better definition of what is Product of the USA- and asking that food grown in another country can't be so labeled--like the Canadian/Mexican/Aussie/Uruguayan/etc beef/meat that is passed off as US beef is now....

[farmers_son]

PEI is a very nice place and I find the people there great. And no doubt R-Calf supporters are good people too. I have no way of knowing if the PEI Federation of Agriculture speaks for the majority of producers on PEI but I know R-Calf does not speak for the majority of American cattle producers.

I continue to hope most American cattle producers are fair people. And I continue to hope that Canada's efforts in Afghanistan are not for nothing.

I believe some of the Canadian boys who were lost in Afghanstan were from farms in Alberta and Saskatchewan. A neighbour boy from a few miles North of here joined up last week knowing full well where he would be stationed. Why are our boys good enough to fight your wars but our beef is not good enough to be sold in your stores?

I say it again, COOL is anti American. It will not increase the price of live cattle for your producers and it is a non tariff trade barrier with an important trade partner and ally. Would the Americans rather have Saudi Arabia for its northern neighbour, or Libya or even Japan? Canada is not China either. Figure it out.