At the urging of the National Milk Producers Federation close to 180 House members have written the U.S..Trade Representative And Ag Secretary asking them not to give into the European Union on common food names. The fifth round of the Trans Atlantic Trade talks begin this week and the E.U.. is trying to take ownership of common names. Federation’s Chris Galen says the E.U. doesn’t own those names.
Galen says the E.U’s demands to adopt geographical indicators for certain dairy products is a barrier to trade and commerce that defies the fundamental goals of a trade agreement.
Galen says the cheese name argument could spill over into other products like meats and wine with other trading partners if the E.U. is allowed to prevail on this issue.