A bipartisan group of Senators led by South Dakota’s John Thune have written to U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Ag Secretary Sonny Perdue requesting they enhance common food name protections as a core policy objective in all trade discussions. Iowa State Dairy Association Executive Director Mitch Schulte says it’s a direct response to the European Union’s Geographical Indicator trade barrier.
He says not being able to use common food names limits the U.S. dairy industry’s ability to sell those products in a free market environment and not be hit by unnecessary and unneeded labeling costs.
Schulte applauds the Senators for taking this strong approach against the E.U. on this trade issue and hopes both the USTR and US Ag Secretary follow through.
Some of the GI barriers the E.U. is putting up includes the use of common terms such as parmesan, feta, and bologna.
