WASHINGTON, DC – President Donald Trump has reopened the debate over mandatory country-of-origin labeling for beef by directing USDA and the U.S. Trade Representative to review existing authority and recommend next steps within 90 days.
The executive order does not reinstate mandatory labeling. Instead, agencies must evaluate regulatory options, legal authority, and possible legislative recommendations before any new requirement could move forward.
Cattle groups are divided. National Farmers Union and the United States Cattlemen’s Association support mandatory labeling, while the American Farm Bureau Federation backs a voluntary approach that complies with World Trade Organization rules.
Texas Cattle Feeders Association opposes reinstating mandatory COOL, arguing previous requirements increased compliance costs without providing measurable producer benefits. USCA says congressional action would provide the most durable path.
The review could shape future labeling policy, but any mandatory program would still face legal, trade, and implementation questions before reaching grocery-store beef cases.
Farm-Level Takeaway: The 90-day review reopens a major cattle-industry policy divide without yet changing how beef must be labeled.