The chairman and ranking member of the Senate Agriculture Committee are at odds on how to fix Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) which has been found in violation of world trade rules.

Chairman Senator Pat Roberts (R-KS) filed an amendment Thursday to the highway bill that would repeal mandatory COOL for beef, pork and chicken in an effort to prevent billions of dollars in retaliatory tariffs by Mexico and Canada.

“As I’ve said before, whether you support or oppose COOL, the fact is retaliation is coming,” said Roberts. “We need to protect the U.S. economy from potentially $3 billion in tariffs. Canada and Mexico have repeatedly stated that Congress can prevent retaliation and protect our vast exports by simply taking up the House-passed repeal bill, and I am offering an amendment to do just that.”

At the same time, committee ranking member Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), together with Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND), introduced the Voluntary Country of Origin Labeling (COOL) and Trade Enhancement Act of 2015 that they believe would comply with the WTO ruling by removing certain meat products from the mandatory labeling program. Additionally, this legislation will put in place a voluntary label to help empower consumers by ensuring they have accessible to products labeled “Product of the U.S.”

“If consumers in Canada have the right to know where their food comes from through a voluntary labeling system, then American consumers should have the same. This bill is a path forward and will encourage international trade while giving families peace of mind,” said Stabenow.

Roberts says the voluntary approach needs to wait. “We can continue to discuss voluntary labeling programs similar to those already in the marketplace – once COOL is repealed,” he said.