That’s how Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack summed up U.S. and EU differences on so-called geographic indicators, the names that tie a food to its home area, whether it’s Vidalia onions from Georgia or sparkling wine from the Champagne region of France. “This is not an easy issue,” Vilsack told reporters after a working luncheon with EU ag ministers in Brussels. Geographic indicators were mentioned by almost every minister who spoke, he said. “There is no question there is going to have to be a serious negotiation over this.”
U.S. farm groups say Europe, in the name of protecting products famed for their origin, quality and reputation, would block use of common descriptions for foods, such as salami to denote a highly seasoned, fermented and air-dried sausage or parmesan to mean a hard, dry, sharply flavored cheese made from skim milk. “The protection of geographical indications matters economically and culturally,” says the European Commission. “They can create value for local communities through products that are deeply rooted in tradition, culture and geography.”
Vilsack said the U.S. system of trademarks is one way to protect the value of a product without denying market access but Europe is not persuaded. The sides also disagree about genetically engineered crops and beef produced with aid of artificial growht hormones. During a teleconference, Vilsack said he told the Europeans that without a “strong commitment” to progress on agricultural issues, it would be very difficult to gain approval by Congress of a U.S.-EU trade pact.