Beef Origin Labeling Accountability Act
This bill directs the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR), in consultation with the Department of Agriculture, to determine a means of reinstating mandatory country-of-origin labeling (COOL) for beef that is compliant with World Trade Organization rules. (COOL is a labeling law that requires retailers, such as full-line grocery stores, supermarkets, and club warehouse stores, to notify their customers of information regarding the source of certain foods.)
The USTR must submit a report to specified congressional committees that includes (1) a description of its progress in determining a means of reinstating mandatory COOL for beef, and (2) recommendations for legislation that may be necessary and any engagement with other governments on this matter.
The USTR must also seek to enter into consultations with the governments of Canada and Mexico to resolve outstanding trade disputes related to COOL for beef.
[Congressional Bills 119th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 5954 Introduced in House (IH)]
<DOC>
119th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 5954
To require the United States Trade Representative, in consultation with
the Secretary of Agriculture, to determine a means of reinstating
mandatory country of origin labeling for beef that is in compliance
with all applicable rules of the World Trade Organization, and for
other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
November 7, 2025
Mr. Johnson of South Dakota introduced the following bill; which was
referred to the Committee on Ways and Means
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To require the United States Trade Representative, in consultation with
the Secretary of Agriculture, to determine a means of reinstating
mandatory country of origin labeling for beef that is in compliance
with all applicable rules of the World Trade Organization, and for
other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Beef Origin Labeling Accountability
Act''.
SEC. 2. REINSTATEMENT OF MANDATORY COUNTRY OF ORIGIN LABELING FOR BEEF.
(a) In General.--The United States Trade Representative, in
consultation with the Secretary of Agriculture, shall determine a means
of reinstating mandatory country of origin labeling for beef that is in
compliance with all applicable rules of the World Trade Organization.
(b) Report.--Not later than 180 days after the date of the
enactment of this Act, and every 180 days thereafter as appropriate,
the United States Trade Representative shall submit to the appropriate
congressional committees a report that includes--
(1) a description of progress in meeting the requirements
of subsection (a); and
(2) recommendations for legislation to implement the
requirements of subsection (a), including the means of
reinstating mandatory country of origin labeling for beef, if
necessary, as well as engagements with the Trade
Representative's counterparts in other governments on this
matter.
(c) Consultations To Resolve WTO Dispute Settlements.--The United
States Trade Representative shall seek to enter into consultations
with--
(1) the Trade Representative's counterpart in the
Government of Canada to resolve the matters involved in the
World Trade Organization's dispute settlement identified as
``DS384'' and titled ``United States-Certain Country of Origin
Labeling Requirements''; and
(2) the Trade Representative's counterpart in the
Government of Mexico to resolve the matters involved in the
World Trade Organization's dispute settlement identified as
``DS386'' and titled ``United States-Certain Country of Origin
Labeling Requirements''.
(d) Appropriate Congressional Committees.--In this section, the
term ``appropriate congressional committees'' means--
(1) the Committee on Agriculture and the Committee on Ways
and Means of the House of Representatives; and
(2) the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry
and the Committee on Finance of the Senate.
<all>
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means.
Llama 3.2 · runs locally in your browser
Ask anything about this bill. The AI reads the full text to answer.
Enter to send · Shift+Enter for new line