[CTC] Coalition Tells USTR: Bring Back Mandatory Country-of-Origin Labeling

[Arthur Stamoulis]

https://nffc.net/pr-ustr-mcool-letter-2026/
*Coalition Tells U.S. Trade Representative: Bring Back **Mandatory
Country-of-Origin Labeling*



*WASHINGTON, D.C., March 12, 2026* – Yesterday, a coalition of 38
organizations sent a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador
Jamieson Greer, urging him to act on mandatory country-of-origin labeling
(MCOOL) for beef during the ongoing U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)
negotiations.

The coalition, led by the National Family Farm Coalition, the Institute for
Agriculture and Trade Policy, the Western Organization of Resource
Councils, and the Campaign for Family Farms and the Environment,
highlighted the consumer demand for transparency that MCOOL would bring to
the marketplace. The groups, many of whom represent independent
agricultural producers nationally and regionally, also emphasized the need
for MCOOL to create more competitive markets for U.S. producers so that
they can secure a fairer price.

“Trade policy should not prevent common sense popular measures like COOL
that help markets function properly and facilitate competition,” the letter
explains. “Mandatory COOL facilitates fair competition by providing
accurate information in the marketplace. With mandatory COOL, U.S.
producers can communicate their products’ attributes, including being
produced under U.S. rules for safety, quality and environmental impact. And
consumers can make informed decisions based on their priorities, like
supporting U.S. producers or reducing food miles. Without mandatory COOL,
the market is operating with incomplete information.”

The letter argues that the USMCA review process, due by this summer,
presents an important opportunity to negotiate a new solution to prior
challenges to MCOOL. “This could be accomplished through the inclusion of
an annex on Transparency in Food Labeling to the USMCA Chapter on Technical
Barriers to Trade in which the three countries agree not to bring
challenges to COOL and related food labeling issues to the WTO, followed by
ongoing negotiations to permanently carve out measures related to
transparency in food labeling from trade disputes,” the letter says.

The letter is available to view here
<https://nffc.net/letter-greer-usmca-mcool-2026/>.



*###*

*Since 1986, National Family Farm Coalition has been mobilizing family
farmers and ranchers to achieve fair prices, vibrant communities, and
healthy foods free of corporate domination. Today, NFFC’s 30 member groups
span 44 states and represent family farmers, ranchers, and fishing people
across the United States. To learn more, visit **www.nffc.net*
<http://www.nffc.net/>*.*
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