Senators Repeat Call for Removal of Cheese Geographical Indications in TTIP
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative should reject any Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership provisions for geographical indication (GI) restrictions that would restrict the ability of U.S. producers to use common cheese names, said 55 senators in a recent…
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letter, reiterating past calls to eliminate European Union (EU) rules. The EU is reportedly pressing for inclusion of the geographical indication language in a TTIP agreement, in line with similar efforts in other EU trade agreements, said the letter. The EU restrictions could limit U.S. use of cheese names such as “muenster,” “parmesan” and “feta,” according to Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., in a press release.“In country after country, the EU has been using its free trade agreements to persuade its trading partners to impose barriers to U.S. exports under the guise of protection for its geographical indications,” said the letter. “This trade-damaging practice is concerning anywhere, but it is most deeply troubling where the U.S. has an established FTA or has been actively in the process of negotiating a new agreement.” The senators submitted the letter to Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack and U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman. House lawmakers sent a related letter to the two cabinet officials in the days preceding the Senate submission (see 14042201 and 14051534).