As a part of talks to reexamine its trade agreement with the European Union, Mexico this month issued a list of product names it is considering protecting as geographical indications (GIs). This list includes 340 terms, including cheeses, wines and spirits.

“Many cheese names that U.S. dairy companies produce and export show up on this list,” said Beth Hughes, IDFA director of international affairs. “Mexico is our number one cheese export market and we are taking this seriously. This latest action is another example of the European Union using GI agreements to effectively limit fair competition from non-EU cheese, wine and meat producers around the world.”

Mexico announced the list “so that interested persons and legal entities can submit comments or objections to the eventual recognition and protection of those names as geographical indications in Mexico’s national territory, as part of the intellectual property negotiations.”

There is a 60-day deadline to oppose terms on the list. U.S. dairy companies should review the list and contact Hughes, at bhughes@idfa.org with any concerns as soon as possible.