U.S. bid to resurrect contentious beef labelling rules returns to Capitol Hill

U.S. bill seeks return of country-of-origin rules once repealed under threat of Canadian trade sanctions

A group of U.S. senators is aiming to bring back mandatory country-of-origin labelling rules for beef, six years after being repealed under the threat of $1-billion in trade sanctions from Canada.

Four U.S. senators — two Republican and two Democrat — recently introduced the American Beef Labeling Act, garnering praise from long-time backers who see the rules as helping struggling ranchers.

"We intend to get this passed as quickly as possible," said Bill Bullard, chief executive of R-CALF USA, a cattle trade association representing about 5,500 farmers and ranchers across 44 states.

Opponents of the bill, in Canada and the United States, regard the proposed legislation as a long shot but are nevertheless keeping close tabs due to the high stakes and unpredictability of politics inside the Beltway.

The annual value of Canadian exports of beef and live cattle to the U.S. is pegged at between $2.5 billion and $3 billion...

This was excerpted from the 29 October 2021 edition of CBC News.