Page 25 - Flathead Beacon // 5.27.2015

FLATHEADBEACON.COM OPINION UNCOMMON GROUND Mike Jopek
Not COOL
MAY 27, 2015 | 25
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THE WORLD TRADE Organization recently issued its ruling that said labels stating the country of origin of meat products sold in the U.S. are an unfair trade bar- rier to places like Canada and Mexico. The WTO, led by a man from Brazil, said that tariffs may now be imposed by other countries onto some American exported goods unless changes occur.
In 2005, former Gov. Brian Sch- weitzer requested a bill in the Montana Legislature mandating that meat sold in the state but produced in another coun- try must be labeled to indicate the coun- try of origin. The country of origin label- ing (COOL) bill overwhelmingly passed the Legislature and was carried by for- mer Rep. Bob Bergren and then state Sen. Jon Tester.
In Congress, Tester supported the federal approach to country of origin labeling of meat, seafood, produce and fruit. COOL became the law as part of the 2008 Farm Bill.
For now, the WTO ruling only applies to red meat. Canada led objections at the WTO that included countries like China, New Zealand, Australia, Brazil and Gua- temala. Apparently many feel it’s unfair for American consumers to know where meat is produced.
WTO cited a 1994 General Agree- ment on Tariffs and Trade update. The updated GATT agreement was un- der former President Bill Clinton. The agreement with 122 other nations cre- ated the WTO.
It’s ironic that a 20-year-old interna- tional trade agreement was used to dis- allow American consumers’ the right to know where food is produced. In a joint statement Canada and Mexico said, “We call on the United States to repeal COOL legislation and comply with its interna- tional obligations.”
House Agricultural Committee Chairman Mike Conaway from Texas said that he favors repeal of COOL and moved to pass a bill to fix the ensuing trade war by removing Americans’ right to know where meat is raised.
Time will tell how Congress bows to international trade winds, but food la-
bels have become a thorny political is- sue. Intrinsically consumers have just as muchrighttoknowwheretheirfoodis grown, as what’s in their food.
Congress is deciding whether to grant President Barack Obama the right to fast track negotiations with Asian countries on a Trans Pacific Partnership trade agreement. TPP is so far a pro- posed 12-country regulatory treaty with places like Australia, Canada, Mexico, Japan and Taiwan.
Critics to TPP, like former Secretary of Labor Robert Reich in the Clinton Ad- ministration, have been busy skewer- ing the secret trade negotiations. Reich claims that TPP gives power for multi- national corporations to question any U.S. law that they find objectionable be- fore another secret tribunal.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch Mc- Connell said that Congress would pass the TPP fast-track authorization before Memorial Day. TPP is the latest flash- point for food. Many critics say that TPP will promote bioengineered foods in countries that ban it or require the label- ing of GMO ingredients.
If future international trade settle- ments before a tribunal on bioengi- neered food prohibits labels for coun- tries that mandate transparency, like America’s country of origin meat law, many countries would rightly protest.
TPP may trade more Montana wheat or beef to far away places. It may push new growth regulators, already ap- proved on some Canadian wheat but not
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EDUCATORS
Flathead Conservation District is accepting
rvation month—a time to
Education Grant Requests
conservation efforts across
Montana. n
Grant Requests through June llow fascines, and riparian
ear Whitefis t has restor mix of veget
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plantings.
12, 2015.
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Do you need supplies or equipment to bring conservation
, the Flathead
education into your classroom?
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The Flathead Conservation District is accepting Education
Contact: FLATHEAD CONSERVATION DISTRICT (406) 752-4220 | www.flatheadcd.org
Local, Common Sense
CONSERVATION
Since 1945
TO INTERNATIONAL TRADE WINDS, BUT FOOD LABELS HAVE BECOME A THORNY POLITICAL ISSUE.”
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with multinational-agribusiness for a share of the food market. Much produce like tomatoes and chard is grown in far
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away places like Mexico where the mini-
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trade agreements and makes time to talk
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with farmers like Tester. People have a
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“TIME WILL TELL HOW CONGRESS BOWS
Before
Mike (Uncommon Ground) Jopek and Dave (Closing Range) Skinner often fall on op- posite sides of the fence when it comes to political and outdoor issues. Their columns alternate each week in the Flathead Beacon.
By addressing severe streambank erosion and
instability along this stretch of Haskill Creek, we have