July 28, 2014

WTO Attacks on U.S. Consumer Safeguards

In a set of decisions last fall, the World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled against U.S.country-of-origin labels on meat, dolphin-safe labels on tuna, and the ban on sweet-flavored cigarettes designed to combat youth smoking.

These are the policies we rely on to allow us to protect children’s health and make informed decisions as consumers. Under current rules, the U.S. will have to water down or eliminate these policies, or face trade sanctions.

Learn More — Recent WTO Rulings against US Consumer Laws

COOL Case | Dolphin-Safe Tuna Case | Cigarettes Case | Other Resources

U.S. Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) Case

---

• Recording: WTO COOL Ruling as Exhibit #1 in Trade Agreement Rollback of Consumer, other U.S. Policies (May 19, 2015)
• Press Release: WTO Orders U.S. to Gut U.S. Consumer Country-of-Origin Meat Labeling Policy, Further Complicating Obama Fast Track Push by Spotlighting How Trade Pacts Can Undermine U.S. Consumer, Environmental Policies (May 18, 2015)
• Food & Water Watch Hosts Reporters’ Teleconference with Global Trade Watch Director Lori Wallach on WTO’s Rejection of Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) (October 23, 2014)
• Press Release: World Trade Organization Rules Against Popular U.S. Country-of-Origin Meat Labels on Which Consumers Rely (October 20, 2014)
• Reporters’ Memo: USDA Stands Firm on Consumer Meat Labels; Will the WTO Continue Its Anti-Consumer Legacy and Authorize Trade Sanctions? (May 23, 2013)
• Media Advisory: Press Teleconference Today at 10 a.m.: As President Obama Travels to Mexico, Will He Ask President Pena Nieto to Accept the Obama Administration’s Proposed Changes to Popular U.S. Country-of-Origin Meat Labels Against Which Mexico Won a WTO Ruling? (May 2, 2013)
• Public Citizen Comments on the Regulatory Response to the WTO’s Ruling against Country-of-Origin Labeling for Meat (April 11, 2013)
• Press Release: New Legal Analysis Shows How Obama Administration Can Avoid Trade Sanctions by Strengthening Popular Consumer Country-of-Origin Meat Labels Ruled Against by WTO (February 12, 2013)
• Legal Memo: Options for Coming into Compliance with WTO Ruling on Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) (February 4, 2013)
• Press Release: WTO Rules Against Yet Another U.S. Consumer Protection Policy (June 29, 2012)
• Press Release: Public Citizen Applauds Obama Administration’s Efforts to Defend Consumer Country of Origin Meat Labeling; Appeal of WTO Ruling Necessary First Step (March 22, 2012)
• Press Release: Consumer Groups Call on Obama Administration to Defend COOL on Meat (February 24, 2012)
• Consumer Groups Write to President Obama, Urging Appeal of COOL Ruling (February 24, 2012)
• Memo: Considerations for U.S. in Appellate Body Review of Lower Panel WTO COOL Ruling (January 5, 2012)
• Todd Tucker on the Thom Hartmann Show: It’s Now Illegal to Know What’s in Your Food (December 14, 2011)
• Press Release: WTO Rules Against Country-of-Origin Meat Labeling Law: Third Ruling Against U.S. Consumer Safeguards in 2011 (Noevember 18, 2011)
• Blog Post: WTO Attacks U.S. Ground Beef Labeling (May 27, 2011)

Dolphin-Safe Tuna Label Case

---

• Sierra Club Statement: World Trade Organization Puts Dolphins at Risk (November 20, 2015)
• Press Release: Flipper vs. Fast Track: World Trade Organization Again Rules Against ‘Dolphin-Safe’ Labels, Says U.S. Policy Still Violates WTO Rules, Must Go (April 14, 2015)
• Press Release: Obama Administration Sides With Consumers and Stands Firm on ‘Dolphin-Safe’ Tuna Labels; Will the WTO Authorize Trade Sanctions Against the U.S.? (July 12, 2013)
• Members of Congress Send a Letter to USTR Calling for Protection of Dolphin-Safe Tuna Labeling in the TPP (October 25, 2012)
• Senators Write to Mexican Ambassador, Expressing Concern About WTO Ruling on Dolphin-Safe Labeling (July 26, 2012)
• Senators Write Letter Expressing Concern to Administration About WTO Ruling on Dolphin-Safe Labeling (July 26, 2012)
• 42 Representatives Write to President Obama, Urging Protection of Dolphin-Safe Tuna Label (May 31, 2012)

• Press Release: Public Citizen Condemns WTO Attack on U.S. Dolphin Protection Efforts (May 16, 2012)
• Groups Write to Obama on the Government of Mexico’s Failure to Fulfill NAFTA Obligations for Dolphin-Safe Tuna Label Dispute (February 13, 2012)
• Press Release: Public Citizen Applauds Obama Administration’s Appeal of Trade Ruling Against U.S. Dolphin Protection Measures (January 20, 2012)
• Memo: Considerations for U.S. in Appellate Body Review of Lower Panel WTO Tuna-Dolphin Ruling (January 5, 2012)
• OWINFS: WTO Turnaround: Food, Jobs and Sustainable Development First (December 17, 2011)
• Blog Post: Flipper Gets Axed by the WTO (September 15, 2011)
• Press Release: WTO Rules Against Dolphin-Safe Tuna Labels (September 15, 2011)

Ban on Candy and Clove Cigarettes Case

---

• Press Release: Will U.S. Face Trade Sanctions as Deadline Passes for U.S. to Alter Law Curbing Teen Smoking, Ruled Against by World Trade Organization? (July 24, 2013)
• Wallach in The Huffington Post: WTO Orders U.S. to Dump Landmark Obama Youth Anti-Smoking Law” (April 9, 2012)
• Press Release: Public Citizen Condemns WTO Attack on U.S. Efforts to Reduce Teen Smoking (April 4, 2012)
• Memo: Considerations for U.S. in Appellate Body Review of Lower Panel Clove Cigarettes Ruling (January 13, 2012)
• Blog Post: U.S. Measures to Reduce Teenage Smoking Ruled WTO Violation (September 9, 2011)

Other Resources

---

Digital Media

• Global Trade Watch’s Todd Tucker on ABC2 News: Potential Changes to Food Labels (February 14, 2012)
• Global Trade Watch Director Lori Wallach on the Kojo Nnamdi Radio Show (January 4, 2012)
• Global Trade Watch’s Todd Tucker on the Thom Hartmann Show: It’s Now Illegal to Know What’s in Your Food (December 14, 2011)

Articles

• Peter Whoriskey in The Washington Post: U.S. meat labels to detail animal’s origin; Canada, Mexico raise concern (May 24, 2013)
• Rob Hotakainen of McClatchy Newspapers: As trade rulings against U.S. mount, backlash builds against WTO (December 1, 2012)
• Tim Carman in The Washington Post: WTO rules against U.S. country-of-origin label (June 29, 2012)
• Tim Carman in The Washington Post: WTO: ‘Dolphin-safe’ label discriminates against Mexico (May 16, 2012)
• Tim Carman in The Washington Post: Tuna, meat labeling disputes highlight WTO control (January 10, 2012)
• Global Trade Watch’s Tucker and Jayati Ghosh in Economic & Political Weekly: “WTO Conflict with Financial Re-regulation” (December 17, 2011)
• Global Trade Watch’s Wallach and Tucker in The Hill: Trade Rulings Undermine Consumer Protection (December 2, 2011)

Read past articles in our archives.