Sign of the times-Euro union disrespects US products

[whitehall]

The Euro-union has pressured the US in trade talks to drop the names for cheese made in the US. The Euro-union claims that cheese makers in the US have no right to use names like "Parmesan", "Feta", "Gorganzola" and others which originated in Europe. Reagan would have laughed and probably said "well there they go again" but it's likely the timid Hussein administration will take it seriously.

 

[Truthmatters]

your party does too

 

[Truthmatters]

when was the last time your right wing party talked about US workers like they has something to offer this world?

 

[Truthmatters]

you all say they are No good and not worth the pay

 

[Bombur]

The Euro-union has pressured the US in trade talks to drop the names for cheese made in the US. The Euro-union claims that cheese makers in the US have no right to use names like "Parmesan", "Feta", "Gorganzola" and others which originated in Europe. Reagan would have laughed and probably said "well there they go again" but it's likely the timid Hussein administration will take it seriously.

We have rules about Bourbon that are like that. Champagne too.

 

[whitehall]

The left might be concerned if there is a cheese makers union.

 

[SteadyMercury]

How did you leap from products that have traditions dating way back to regions in Europe wanting to protect their regional name product assocation, to the European Union disrespecting American products?

 

[DGS49]

It's not disrespecting products, it's protectionism. the EU is wierd as all getout when it comes to food. They don't like "biologically-engineered" fruits and vegetables either.

In some areas, just like Americans, they act like idiots.

No disrespect intended.

 

[oldfart]

It's not disrespecting products, it's protectionism. the EU is wierd as all getout when it comes to food. They don't like "biologically-engineered" fruits and vegetables either.

In some areas, just like Americans, they act like idiots.

No disrespect intended.

I agree, but I think there is a danger in confusing a proposal with the actual law. Lots of European regions are clamoring for protection, but don't have it. And you actually have three different types of laws.

First, there are content laws. The German beer law simply bans any ingredient in beer other than water, hops, grain, and yeast. So their market is essentially open to anyone willing to abide by those rules. Rules on antibiotics and hormones in meat and genetically modified fruits and vegetables fall into the same category.

Second there are origin laws. This is especially prevalent in wines. Only certain regions are entitled to use the name of the region in their products such as Burgundy, Moselle, and, yes, Champagne.

Finally there are product name laws, for which there is less of a justification. A varietal wine grown in Chile, California, or South Africa can be better than the same product of France or Italy. I think eventually this is going to be simplified to require that certain products be processed in a certain manner and/or be based on certain ingredients to be eligible for a certain name, just as Bleu Cheese or Liverwurst.

Bear in mind also that American and European categories can be wildly different. There is no such thing as Swiss cheese in Switzerland (it is either Emantaller or Gruyere)!

 

[DGS49]

Nice summary and I agree with you. But the bottom line is still protectionism. I think.