Today, Farm Action’s Joe Maxwell will testify before the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) at a hearing on the 2026 Joint Review of the United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement (USMCA) at 3:35 p.m. ET. Maxwell will echo Farm Action’s previously submitted public comments: Reinstating Mandatory Country of Origin Labeling (MCOOL) for beef and pork must be a top U.S. trade priority.
In the absence of MCOOL for beef and pork, which was repealed in 2015, imported meat sold by multinational meatpackers has gained equal footing with domestic-raised beef and pork to the detriment of U.S. farmers and ranchers. Meanwhile, the U.S. beef cow herd has fallen to a historic low while our beef imports climb.
“That combination—a shrinking domestic herd and rising imports—is a dangerous trajectory for America’s food security and rural economy. The United States should not be increasingly dependent on foreign beef while our own herd declines to historic lows,” Maxwell, Farm Action’s co-founder and chief strategy officer, says in his testimony.
Canada and Mexico previously brought successful disputes against the United States at the World Trade Organization (WTO), arguing that MCOOL discriminated against their livestock. Those rulings led Congress to repeal MCOOL for beef and pork in 2015 to avoid retaliation. Through the USMCA Joint Review, however, Canada and Mexico can agree to permit each country to adopt non-discriminatory origin-labeling requirements.
By securing such an agreement and restoring MCOOL, USTR would level the playing field for U.S. cattle and pork producers, incentivize rebuilding the domestic cow herd, and strengthen America’s food security by reducing overreliance on imports—all while delivering the clear labeling transparency consumers overwhelmingly support.
Farm Action recently rallied farmers and ranchers across the country to demand MCOOL, driving a surge of supportive public comments to USTR. Congress has also taken action, with bipartisan MCOOL legislation introduced this session in both the Senate and the House—underscoring the urgent need and growing momentum for MCOOL.
While the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s upcoming voluntary “Product of USA” rule is a positive step, multinational packers can simply choose not to label their products at all.
“MCOOL is not optional—it is essential. It is essential for rebuilding the herd, restoring fairness, and protecting our food security. The USMCA Joint Review is your moment to fix this. Farmers and consumers are counting on USTR to stand up, lead boldly, and deliver mandatory country-of-origin labeling once and for all,” Maxwell says in closing.
More information about today’s USTR hearing can be found here. Learn more about Farm Action’s work to advance MCOOL here.
Media Contact: Jessica Cusworth, [email protected], 202-450-0887
