Origin, Name and Quality

The European Union will not water down its strict geographic food names under a far-reaching trade deal with the United States.

Wines, meats, cheeses and other delicacies produced in Europe have a special status that protects their name and origin from imitation; Parmigiano, Champagne, Feta cheese just being a few of these.

German Agriculture Minister Christian Schmidt told a magazine that under the proposed trade pact with the United States, "we cannot protect every sausage and every cheese specialty." That did not go over well.

The United States says the EU system is unfair because European immigrants have long produced such products as Greek-style cheese "feta" and should be allowed to export it as such.

"We have made clear to our American counterparts that the protection of geographical indications is one of our main priorities," EU trade spokesman Daniel Rosario said.  

Tensions over the emotive subject of food risk eroding already fragile public support for a deal that proponents say would increase economic growth by around $100 billion a year on both sides of the Atlantic.

Some EU farmers fear that these changes to the system would see Europe importing Nuremberg pork sausages from Kentucky or allowing U.S. food companies to export Parmesan cheese even when the milk has not been produced in Italy.

But the United States argues that terms such as feta, prosciutto and bratwurst are generic, highlighted by the fact that Denmark can sell Greek-style feta in Europe. More broadly, U.S. farmers complain that the farm trading relationship is unfairly skewed in Europe's favor and want it addressed in the trade talks.

Schmidt later issued a statement promising to protect and promote traditional and regional foods.