The case is amazing in its timeliness. It illustrates how trade disputes can jeopardize national sovereignty, with business interests forcing governments to roll back legislation that was passed to inform and protect consumers. |
Yesterday, the House passed H.R. 2393 – to repeal country of origin labeling requirements for beef, pork, and chicken.
Congress enacted the legislation in 2002 requiring the labels on meat to inform consumers of the product's country of origin. Canada and Mexico challenged the law before a World Trade Organization adjudication panel, charging the US with a violation of WTO rules by discriminating against imported livestock. They claimed that the labeling reduced demand and the value of cattle and hogs they exported to the US.
The WTO's final ruling, after appeal, would allow exporters in Canada and Mexico to impose billions of dollars in punitive tariffs on the US, if the labelling law remained in effect..
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The House Agriculture Committee approved the measure after hearing testimony from:
- Linda M. Dempsey, VP International Economic Affairs, National Association of Manufacturers,
- John P. Weber, President National Pork Producers
- Christopher W. Wenk, Executive Director International Policy, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- Tom LaFaille, VP International Trade Counsel, Wine Institute
- Alison Bodor, VP, National Confectioners Association
- Michael T. Smith, Special Projects Manager, Harris Ranch Co/National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
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In debate, Rep Marcy Kaptur urged her colleagues to vote against the bill but the House passed it 300-131, with three members not voting.
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66 Democrats voted in favor of repealing the labeling law.
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House Rep |
District |
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Alma Adams |
NC-08 |
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Pete Aguilar |
CA-38 |
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Brad Ashford |
NE-02 |
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Ami Bera |
CA-16 |
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Sanford Bishop |
GA-11 |
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Robert Brady |
PA-10 |
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Corrine Brown |
FL-14 |
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Cheri Bustos |
IL-08 |
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G.K. Butterfield |
NC-10 |
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Lois Capps |
CA-31 |
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John Carney |
DE-00 |
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Andre Carson |
IN-07 |
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Joaquin Castro |
TX-28 |
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Emanuel Cleaver |
MO-05 |
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Jim Clyburn |
SC-06 |
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Jim Cooper |
TN-05 |
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Jim Costa |
CA-24 |
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Henry Cuellar |
TX-35 |
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Suzan DelBene |
WA-01 |
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Lloyd Doggett |
TX-08 |
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Tammy Duckworth |
IL-17 |
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Anna Eshoo |
CA-26 |
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Sam Farr |
CA-28 |
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Chaka Fattah |
PA-11 |
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Bill Foster |
IL-02 |
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Marcia Fudge |
OH-04 |
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Gwen Graham |
FL-11 |
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Jim Himes |
CT-04 |
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Ruben Hinojosa |
TX-23 |
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Jared Huffman |
CA-11 |
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Steve Israel |
NY-12 |
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Sheila Jackson Lee |
TX-26 |
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Hakeem Jeffries |
NY-17 |
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Eddie Bernice Johnson |
TX-03 |
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Robin Kelly |
IL-11 |
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Derek Kilmer |
WA-05 |
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Ron Kind |
WI-03 |
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Ann Kirkpatrick |
AZ-01 |
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Rick Larsen |
WA-01 |
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Zoe Lofgren |
CA-27 |
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Sean Maloney |
NY-26 |
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Doris Matsui |
CA-15 |
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Jerry McNerney |
CA-18 |
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Gregory Meeks |
NY-14 |
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Beto O'Rourke |
TX-24 |
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Bill Pascrell |
NJ-06 |
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Ed Perlmutter |
CO-07 |
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Scott Peters |
CA-08 |
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Mike Quigley |
IL-14 |
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Cedric Richmond |
LA-02 |
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Lucille Roybal-Allard |
CA-46 |
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Raul Ruiz |
CA-42 |
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Dutch Ruppersberger |
MD-02 |
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Loretta Sanchez |
CA-51 |
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Kurt Schrader |
OR-05 |
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David Scott |
GA-08 |
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Terri Sewell |
AL-07 |
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Kyrsten Sinema |
AZ-09 |
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Eric Swalwell |
CA-23 |
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Mike Thompson |
CA-14 |
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Bennie Thompson |
MS-02 |
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Norma Torres |
CA-41 |
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Juan Vargas |
CA-07 |
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Marc Veasey |
TX-06 |
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Filemon Vela |
TX-07 |
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Nydia Velazquez |
NY-16 |
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10 Republicans voted against repeal of the labeling law.
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House Rep |
District |
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John Duncan |
TN-02 |
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Jeff Fortenberry |
NE-01 |
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Walter Jones |
NC-12 |
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Thomas Massie |
KY-04 |
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Alex Mooney |
WV-02 |
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Kristi Noem |
SD-00 |
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Bruce Poliquin |
ME-02 |
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Bill Posey |
FL-17 |
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Dana Rohrabacher |
CA-53 |
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Don Young |
AK-00 |
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