Saturday, December 18, 2004

Australia and the Cocoa Puffs

The United States and Australia, two countries that do not want to recognize the World Court as an international arbiter of justice are pushing the World Trade Organization to allow mislabeling of products for international sale.
An example is champagne. It originated in the Champagne Region of France. The United States and Australia want to be able to call carbonated wine – like Cherry Ripple – champagne because it has bubbles in it.
The European Union want the name Champagne to apply to Champagne from Champagne so that when you buy Champagne you know what it is.
The US and the Australians want to be able to call anything another thing. Mislabeling products to deceive consumers is wrong.
41 wines, cheeses and other regional products are being attacked by the US and Australia, both of which have been complaining to the WTO.
The list includes Beaujolais, Chianti, Madeira and other wines; Parmesan, Gorgonzola, Roquefort and other cheeses; as well as Parma ham.
"This is not about protectionism. It is about fairness," E.U. Agriculture Commissioner Franz Fischler has said. "It is simply not acceptable that the E.U. cannot sell its genuine Italian Parma Ham in Canada because the trademark 'Parma Ham' is reserved for a ham produced in Canada."
The E.U. is not alone. India wants to protect Darjeeling tea, Sri Lanka its Ceylon tea, Guatemala its Antigua coffee and Switzerland its Etivaz cheese.
If the US and Australia get their way Cocoa Puffs could be marketed as ‘Fine Swiss Chocolate’.

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