Australia, the EU and the US all claimed victory on Tuesday after the WTO ruled in a dispute over protection of regional European food brands such as Parma ham or Roquefort cheese.
Canberra and Washington had complained to the WTO about a 1992 EU rule that protected 700 so-called "geographical indications," claiming they discriminated against imported products.
Releasing their ruling on Tuesday, WTO arbitrators said the EU system was too complex. But while it kept the protection system in place, it extended the right to non-EU countries.
The US claimed that by imposing the geographical indication in addition to normal trademark rules, the EU bars American brands such as Florida oranges from enjoying the same level of protection as, say, Madeira wine.
The EU said the ruling by the WTO disputes settlement panel "upholds the integrity of the EU system and rejects the majority of the claims made by the United States and Australia."
The US meanwhile praised the WTO for its "crystal clear" finding that the EU's system for classifying its foods hampered the chances of non-EU firms.
"It's a clear win for American farmers and food processors. For years, Europe effectively had a `Do Not Apply' sign directed at foreign producers," acting Trade Representative Peter Allgeier said.
"We believed that, under WTO rules, US farmers, ranchers and other food producers should have the same access to protection for `geographical indications' as European food producers, and that the European system discriminated against us," he said in a statement.
Australia meanwhile claimed the ruling went against the EU for not providing the same protection it claimed for its own products.
"The EU wants all WTO members to provide EU-style protection for geographic indications but the panel has found that the EU does not protect geographic indications from other WTO members," a statement by the Australian mission said.
There are about 700 registered geographic indications, or GIs, in Europe -- not counting those for wine and spirits, which have a different system of protection -- but Washington says none are from a non-EU country.
‘NO SECURITY RISK’: The Railway Bureau reassured the public that the technicians’ activities were limited to technical guidance and did not involve sensitive systems The Railway Bureau yesterday said it had invited eight Chinese technicians to assist with an airport MRT construction project. The bureau issued the confirmation after an Internet user said Chinese nationals had entered the construction zone of Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport’s Terminal 3 project. They asked why “individuals from an enemy state” were allowed access to such a major national infrastructure project, which raised serious concerns over Taiwan’s industrial safety, sensitive systems and information security. The bureau’s Northern Region Engineering Branch Office said subcontractor Taiwan Handle Industrial Co (台灣手把工業) of the Taoyuan airport MRT’s “Contract No. CU05 Project A14 Station Civil, MEP &
A US uncrewed surface vessel (USV) encountered multiple Chinese warships during an autonomous transit of the Taiwan Strait, US defense company Seasats said in a statement on Wednesday. Seasats announced that a Lightfish USV had completed the first autonomous transit of the Taiwan Strait. Over five days, the USV traversed the entire length of the Strait while constantly monitoring surface vessel traffic, the company said. The Lightfish encountered multiple Chinese warships, one of which was a Chinese People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) Type 056 corvette, it said. The Chinese vessels were operating “well within Taiwan’s exclusive economic zone without transmitting their identity via the
GREATER REACH? Auto parts and wood products would face tariffs of up to 15%, matching those targeting the EU, Japan and South Korea, Vice Premier said The US has announced that preferential tariff treatment for Taiwan’s non-semiconductor Section 232 goods would take effect retroactively from May 1, the Executive Yuan said yesterday. The US government yesterday posted a notice on the Federal Register’s public inspection Web site previewing tariff concessions for Taiwan under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on Taiwan-US investment after two months of negotiations. The MOU signed on Jan. 15 stipulated three major preferential tariff arrangements: a 15 percent “reciprocal” tariff rate for Taiwan without stacking most-favored nation (MFN) rates; preferential Section 232 treatment for semiconductors and related products; and preferential Section 232 treatment for non-semiconductor
The National Chungshan Institute of Science and Technology yesterday showcased its locally developed variants of the Vision 60 robotic patrol dog, which it plans to deploy on the nation’s outlying territories in the South China Sea. The variants were produced under the Joint Lab project — created by the institute and domestic companies — and assembled with domestically produced motors, lenses and artificial intelligence (AI) systems alongside licensed tech from the US, Missile and Rocket Systems Research Division deputy director Jen Kuo-kang (任國光) told the media event at a military base in Taipei’s Dazhi (大直) area. Taiwan has built up its strengths
RSS