While some think the Biden Administration in the United States is too busy to consider tackling the Country-of-Origin-Labeling debate at this point, others, especially the Canadian pork industry will keep an eye on what transpires.  
The Coalition for a Prosperous America (CPA) recently applauded the U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation for passing with overwhelming bipartisan support a COOL Online Act. The bipartisan COOL Online Act would mandate that COOL all state clearly and conspicuously in any website description of a product. The Act would protect Americans’ right to know where their products are made and help promote goods made in America. 
When suggested to the general manager of the Manitoba Pork Council, Cam Dahl that COOL is back on the U.S. agenda, “COOL was never off the agenda in the United States. There are several Republican and Democrat senators and representatives, especially in some of those Northern Tier States that are protectionist.”  
Canada took the U.S. to the World Trade Organization and after much time, pain and cost, Canada and Mexico prevailed in that case.  
“We still have that protection for MCOOL, but it’s something that we’re paying attention to.” 
Manitoba Pork is making sure Canadian governments, both provincial and federal, that it’s on their radar screen so that this barrier to the trade doesn’t come back. It caused so much havoc in and for the hog industry causing it to downsize. 
Dahl said it caused significant harm to Canada’s pork and beef producers, a target on the backs, but thankfully Canada and Mexico won at the WTO and the U.S. changed the law.  
“That’s where it stands today, but we do have to continue to both be vigilant and to ensure that the administration knows that we will do whatever it takes to protect our rights in this case.” 
Someone suggested the border being open both ways; the industry in the U.S. wants it to stay the same as on the Canadian side.  
It’s such an important point that it’s not the majority of pork producers or processors in the U.S. that want this to happen. It’s a small minority, and the free flow of animals and meat across the border benefits both countries. Free trade is good for Canada, good for the U.S., and good for Canadian farmers. 

Dahl said, for example, right now, there’s a shortage of pigs in the U.S., and to meet their demand, they need to have access to Canadian production.  
Steve Dittmer, EVP at Agribusiness Freedom Foundation in Colorado Springs, Colorado, said that it is always on the front burner for a couple of the left-leaning groups while quiet at the Biden Administration.  
“Of course, one of the biggest critics of our current modern agriculture system is Senator Cory Booker out of New Jersey, which is not known for being a big agricultural state.” 
He is proposing to reform the entire agricultural system. So, some of those kinds of people are receptive to a request for MCOOL. He has no interest from mainstream agricultural groups, but he doesn’t know how many business groups are showing interest, which is a concern.  
“We keep our ear to the ground. The fact the WTO declared it null and void doesn’t seem to phase them; they’ll keep coming at it. But at this point, it doesn’t seem to be on everybody’s front burner just because the Democrats are trying to do so much in the way of imposing general federal rules.” •
— By Harry Siemens