Dispute over cheese names causes stumbling block in US-Mexico trade negotiations

A disagreement over cheese naming conventions has created a hurdle in U.S.-Mexico trade discussions, according to sources close to the Mexican government. The United States objects to Mexico's recent trade agreement with the European Union, which provides special protections to certain European foods like Parmigiano Reggiano, feta, and manchego, and grants the EU legal action against violations.

The U.S. contends that these protections could limit future American cheese producers from selling their products in Mexico under names such as parmesan and feta. U.S. officials argue that the names are generic, while the EU maintains that Parmesan should be reserved for a specific Italian region and feta for select areas of Greece.

Despite the Mexico-EU treaty being signed, Mexico has yet to finalize the necessary procedures for its implementation, while the EU has already done so. The ongoing negotiations for an interim trade deal and the renewal of the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement have given the U.S. leverage to push its case, which could impact a $1.2 billion U.S. cheese trade deficit with the European Union.