U.S. dairy industry lauds JCCT meeting results

THE U.S. dairy industry commended the outcome of the recently concluded U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade meetings, noting it as a testament to a commitment for stronger protection for common food names.

The JCCT result will facilitate the export of products such as feta and parmesan cheese to China, a large and fast-growing market for U.S. dairy products. In addition, it will lay out common principles for how geographical indications (GIs) should be handled.

The JCCT serves as a forum for addressing trade issues between the U.S. and China. The outcome of the just-concluded talks in Chicago will serve as a guiding principle for future dialogue on GIs between the two countries.

Photo: Fresh parmesan cheese © HandmadePictures | Dreamstime.com

International Dairy Foods Association president and CEO Connie Tipton said that the outcome of the JCCT meetings is a great example of the progress that can result from frank and productive collaboration between two trading partners.

Efforts by the European Union to impose bans on the use of  feta, parmesan, asiago, muenster, and other common cheese names in international trade unless the products are manufactured in Europe have generated discussions this year on the issue of common food names and their relationship to GIs. Besides

using talks like those under way for a Trans-Atlantic free trade agreement to impose the bans, the EU is pursuing GI-specific agreements with individual countries, including China.

Meanwhile, the U.S. dairy industry has strongly opposed EU’s efforts to impose bans to limit global competition. 

According to U.S. Dairy Export Council president Tom Suber, "We are extremely pleased that the United States and China have agreed to strong protections for products using these well-established cheese names as we seek to expand exports to this key market."  

"We especially appreciate U.S. negotiators' recognition of the importance of common name preservation to U.S. exports and the heightened focus that the Obama administration has given to a key dairy industry priority," said Jim Mulhern, president and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation.

For more information, read "U.S. Fact Sheet: 25th U.S.-China Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade."