Exhibit 23 August 11, 2003 Cooper Industries, Ltd. 600 Travis, Suite 5800 Houston, Texas 77002-1001 Ladies and Gentlemen: We consent to the incorporation by reference in the following Registration Statements of Cooper Industries, Ltd. (the "Company") and/or Cooper Industries, Inc., as applicable, and in each related Prospectus of the use of our name and the reference to an analysis, with which our firm assisted, concerning the contingent liability exposure of the Company for certain asbestos-related claims, under "Part I; Item 1. Financial Statements; Note 12. Asbestos Liabilities", and under "Part II - Other Information; Item 1. Legal Proceedings" included in the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2003. No. 2-33-14542 Form S-8 Registration Statement for Cooper Industries, Inc. 1989 Employee Stock Purchase Plan No. 333-02847 Form S-8 Registration Statement for Cooper Industries, Inc. Amended and Restated Directors Stock Plan No. 333-64400 Form S-8 Registration Statement for Cooper Industries, Inc. Amended and Restated Stock Incentive Plan No. 333-24237 Form S-3D Registration Statement for Cooper Industries, Inc. Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan No. 333-101451 Form S-3D Registration Statement for Cooper Industries, Ltd. Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan No. 333-51439 Form S-8 Registration Statement for Cooper Industries, Inc. Director's Retainer Fee Stock Plan No. 333-51441 Form S-8 Registration Statement for Cooper Industries, Inc. Amended and Restated Management Annual Incentive Plan No. 333-37580 Form S-8 Registration Statement for Cooper (UK) Employee Share Purchase Plan No. 333-75475 Form S-3 Registration Statement for a shelf registration to issue up to $500 million of debt securities No. 333-99581 Form S-3 Registration Statement for a shelf registration to issue a guarantee of up to $500 million of debt securities Sincerely, Charles E. Bates, Ph.D. President and Senior Partner Bates White Ballentine, LLC