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GENEVA — The world’s top trade body ruled Friday that U.S. “country of origin” labels on cattle and hog exports from Canada and Mexico violate international rules, a move that could lower prices on those exports.
In late 2009, the Geneva-based World Trade Organization opened an investigation into U.S. labeling rules at the request of Canada and Mexico.
Under country-of-origin labeling, foreign cattle and pigs had to be segregated in U.S. feedlots and packing plants, prompting some firms to only deal with American livestock. Foreign animals also were required to have more documentation about where they come from and, in the case of cattle, had to have tags that indicated they were free of mad cow disease.
