Last month the World Trade Organization gave the United States until 23 May 2013 to bring its Mandatory Country of Origin Labelling law into compliance with WTO rules or face the prospects of retaliatory tariffs.

A report prepared for the Canadian Pork Council and released Monday indicates by October 2012 losses to Canadian pork producers reached 1.9 billion dollars and continue to mount.

CPC chair Jean-Guy Vincent says the organization has been working with allies in Canada, Mexico and the United States to find a timely and effective legislated end to this discrimination.

Jean-Guy Vincent-Canadian Pork Council

COOL continues to cost Canadian hog and cattle producers tens of millions of dollars every month and must be dealt with sooner rather than later.

The WTO has concluded that the US must change those aspects of COOL which discriminate against Canadian livestock.

We expect the US will adhere to the 23 May 2013 deadline set by WTO although an earlier adherence will be welcomed.

If the US does not comply with this WTO obligation or resolve the COOL dispute the report's finding will be used to estimate retaliatory tariffs on US exports to Canada.

Mr Vincent stresses the hope is that the US will comply with the WTO ruling without the need for retaliatory tariffs.