EU aims to protect 'home-grown' brands in FTA talks
Protecting products that are associated with their geographical origins, like Bordeaux wine, will become a crucial topic in negotiations for a free-trade agreement between the European Union and Asean, a European trade envoy said.
EU trade counsellor Jean Jacques Bouflet said geographical indication (GI) would be a key topic because it was a highly important issue for the EU. Although there has been no final decision to proceed with free-trade talks, Bouflet said that GI would be a key issue in any such negotiations and that protecting GI would spur trade growth for both regions. "GI protection will increase export growth for both of us in case the talks are initiated," he said during the seminar "Lands of Tradition and Opportunities". The talk was part of the EU-Asean Regional Seminar and Exhibition on the Protection and Promotion of Geographical Indications, held yesterday and today. Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhon presided over the opening ceremony. She said GI contributed not only to the development of local economies but also to the preservation of cultural heritage. "The promotion and the publicity of goods associated with geographical indications are admirable, representing local wisdom for Thais and people all over the world," she said. A GI protection clause will protect products like Scotch whiskey and champagne that possess qualities or a reputation that are due to their place of origin. GI will also help prevent counterfeits and promote local wisdom, Bouflet said. He urged Thailand and Asean to promote GI protection to ease the entry of their products into European markets. "For a GI system to be effective, it needs sufficient registration, strong enforcement and control. Also, Asean needs to collectively work for GI protection improvement." He also urged Thailand to register its One Tambon One Product project for GI protection to increase awareness of quality Thai traditional goods. Meanwhile, an official at the European Commission strongly recommended that Thailand register hom mali or jasmine rice on GI protection lists world-wide to prevent other countries from doing so first. India had faced a problem for GI registration after the US tried to register basmati rice, said the official who declined to be named.
Petchanet Pratruangkrai The Nation
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