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Minister Zhong Shan and Clemens von Goetze, Germany’s Ambassador to China, and Nicolas Chapuis, EU Ambassador to China Inked a China-EU Agreement on Geographical Indications

On September 14, 2020, Chinese Minister of Commerce Zhong Shan and Clemens von Goetze, Germany’s Ambassador to China, and Nicolas Chapuis, EU Ambassador to China signed the Agreement between the European Union and the Government of the People’s Republic of China on Cooperation on, and Protection of, Geographical Indications. Launched in 2011, the negotiation lasted eight years before China and the EU announced the completion in the end of 2019.

The agreement includes 14 articles and seven annexes providing mainly the rules of GIs protection and the list of products entitled to mutual recognition, among others. It protects 275 European GIs in China and 275 Chinese GIs in the EU, including wines, teas, agricultural products and food products.

GI products are abundant in China. According to the agreement, Anxi Tieguanyin, Wuchang Rice and Sichuan Style Pickles are among the first batch of 100 GIs that will be protected in the EU immediately after the agreement takes effect, which can effectively prevent counterfeiting and other infringements. The remaining 175 GIs will be protected within four years after its entry into force. Under the agreement, relevant GI products from China are entitled to use the official symbols of the EU. The deal provides a high-level protection of GIs of both sides, paving the way for EU's high-quality specialty products entering the Chinese market and meeting Chinese consumers’ demand for a better life.

Trade between China and the EU continues to grow in recent years. The signature of the GI agreement and the commitment to a high-level protection of each other’s GIs will contribute to boosting the trade in GI products and shows that China and the EU are committed to free and open trade and the rules-based multilateral system. Under such circumstances, signing the agreement will inject a new impetus into the bilateral trade and economic cooperation.

Going forward, China and the EU will follow their respective legal procedures allowing the agreement to enter into force so that it can benefit Chinese and European businesses and people at an early date.



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