They are thus commercially valuable.As intellectualproperty, geographical indications are eligible for relief from acts of infringement and/or unfair competition. (2) The use of geographical indications for wines and dairy products particularly, which some countries consider to be protectedintellectualproperty, and others consider to be generic or semi-generic terms, has become a contentious international trade issue. How Are Geographical Indications Protected in the United States? What GI Issues Are Being Debated in the Doha Round? The debate over extending protection for geographical indications of agricultural products is reflected in the U.S. request forconsultations (the first step in WTO dispute settlement) with the EU on EU regulations for the protection ofgeographical indicationsfor wines and spirits (Community Regulation 1493/99) and for other agricultural products (Community Regulation2081/92). Outlook and Congressional Role

Decisions about geographical indications will be on the agenda of the WTO Ministerial Conference in Cancun.
The issue of expanding intellectual property protections for geographical indicationsforwines, spirits, and agricultural products is being debated in the World Trade Organization (WTO). Geographicalindications areimportant in international trade because they are commercially valuable. Some European and developing countrieswant to establish tougher restrictions and limits on the use of geographical names for products, while the United States and associatedcountries arguethat the existing level of protection of such terms is adequate. Decisions about the future scope of protection ofgeographicalindications will be made as the current (Doha) round of multilateral trade negotiations continues. Congress ismonitoring thenegotiations and their potential impacts on U.S. producers. This report will be updated as events warrant.