Canada's International Trade Minister says Canada's patience with Washington is running thin over the United States country of origin meat labeling law, and is threatening to challenge the legislation at the World Trade Organisation.
Stockwell Day says the law is dissuading the purchase of Canadian-bred livestock and killing their sector.
He has pledged to be aggressive in defending Canada's interest.
This is despite, just one week earlier, Day saying he would reserve judgment on pursuing retaliation against the US government through WTO channels.
Day is joined in his criticism by Gerry Ritz, Canada's federal Minister of Agriculture.
"A WTO challenge is ready to go should conditions not change," Ritz said.
"There is a frustration with the US with the way things are going.
"This is not good for the free-flow of goods across markets."
Canadian livestock producers say, because of the mandatory COOL law, a limited number of US plants will take their product, and only on certain days, because the majority of packers can't be bothered to segregate the Canadian livestock and prepare different labels.
Further, it has created a glut of supply on the domestic market and, subsequently, lowered the price producers receive.
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