U.S.-Mexico Trade Talks Stall Over Cheese Names
U.S. trade officials and dairy-export organisations have objected to provisions associated with the EU-Mexico pact on the use of cheese names. They argue that non-European dairy processors could be prevented from marketing products under terms that have become common descriptions of generic foods.
The names at issue include parmesan, feta and asiago. Washington’s position is that these terms belong to the public domain when used as descriptions of products, rather than identifying goods that can be made only in particular European regions.
Under the approach criticised by the United States, producers outside Europe could be required to use descriptions such as “feta-style” or “imitation feta”. U.S. officials say that such wording would create additional compliance costs and limit future access to the Mexican market for producers that do not use protected European designations.
The financial stakes are significant for North American dairy exporters. Mexico is the largest individual export market for U.S. cheese, with annual sales of approximately $1bn. By comparison, the European Union’s total dairy shipments to Mexico are worth about $200m a year.
The U.S. Dairy Export Council has strongly criticised Mexico’s concession to Brussels. The organisation says Mexican authorities must protect market access for both U.S. manufacturers and Mexican producers that use common cheese names. Its position covers domestic Mexican manufacturers as well as foreign suppliers.
European cheese organisations describe the disagreement as a conflict between different agricultural models. They contrast large-scale industrial production with regional systems based on long-established production traditions, protected terroir and artisanal standards.
European producers say regional designations provide guarantees of authenticity and clearer information for consumers. They also argue that higher-priced European imports serve specialised niche markets and do not compete directly with mass-market commodity cheese.
