Since the European Union’s decision in late July to delay implementing free trade agreements with Costa Rica and El Salvador, IDFA has ramped up efforts to protect U.S market opportunities in Central America for U.S. dairy exporters.  The EU delayed the FTAs due to objections filed for specific geographical indications (GIs).  If the EU is successful, U.S. dairy exporters may be restricted in the region from using common or generic terms like parmesan, feta and others. 

Working with the Consortium for Common Food Names, IDFA is bringing this issue to the attention of key players in the U.S. government and with our Central American trading partners.   

“We view these efforts by the EU to ban our food producers from using several important names as de facto barriers to trade,” said Clay Hough, IDFA senior group vice president.

IDFA will continue to work to ensure U.S. dairy exporters are not locked out of key markets by the EU.  As negotiations continue in the Transatlantic Trade Investment Partnership (T-TIP) between the U.S. and the EU, GIs will be a top priority for IDFA.

For more information, contact Beth Hughes, director of international affairs, at bhughes@idfa.org.