Groups Call for Stronger Approach to Preserving Common Food, Wine Terms

A coalition of agricultural groups is applauding a bipartisan letter sent this week by 111 members of Congress, urging stronger protections for American-made food and wine exports using common terms. The National Milk Producers Federation said the letter is an important message regarding the need for enhanced U.S. efforts to combat the European Union's attempts to ban U.S. exports of cheese, meat and wine products that are labeled with common terms – such as parmesan or bologna.

The letter asked the U.S. Trade Representative and the USDA to make safeguarding common food and wine terms a core policy objective in all current and future trade negotiations.

Click Here to read the entire letter.

NMPF President and CEO Jim Mulhern said, “America’s dairy farmers have been unduly harmed by the EU’s efforts to limit market opportunities for U.S. dairy products.”

In July, 61 Senators sent a similar letter requesting that the U.S. government enhance protections for common food and wine terms. 

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