ARLINGTON, VA – The Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN) celebrated the release today of a ground-breaking new model for protecting common food names in international trade. The U.S. government announced the conclusion of new trade agreements with Malaysia and Cambodia; both deals contain top of the line protections for common food names.

In addition to the completed trade agreements with Malaysia and Cambodia, the Administration also announced the conclusion of trade framework agreements with Thailand and Vietnam, the former of which specifically mentions finalizing commitments on geographical indications.

“For far too long, producers relying on common names to market their products have faced protectionist attacks driven by the European Union to harm fair competition,” said Jaime Castaneda, Executive Director of CCFN. “These new agreements with Malaysia and Cambodia finally fight fire with fire by directly protecting at-risk common names and establishing detailed due process safeguards for common names as countries consider geographical indication applications. CCFN applauds the Trump Administration for its excellent work in delivering these vital reforms so needed by U.S. producers to ensure they have a level playing field internationally. We look forward to closely collaborating with the U.S. negotiating team as they now work to turn the trade frameworks with Vietnam and Thailand into similarly successful results.”

CCFN was founded in 2012 with one main goal: to ensure that everybody has the right to common names when marketing well-known foods and beverages. To further that objective, CCFN has worked with leaders in agriculture, trade and intellectual property from around the world to promote a commonsense approach that protects both legitimate GIs and generic food names. Additional information can be found at www.commonfoodnames.com.

ARLINGTON, VA – The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), the U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and the Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN) applauded the announcement late yesterday of a new trade framework between the United States and Indonesia that eliminates tariffs on the vast majority of U.S. exports and contains pledges to remove longstanding nontariff barriers affecting American dairy products.

“This looks like it will be a significant win for U.S. dairy. We commend the Trump Administration for securing an agreement that should deliver real benefits for our dairy farmers,” said Gregg Doud, president and CEO of NMPF. “We are pleased to hear this framework removes roadblocks to trade and will help grow dairy sales in one of the world’s most populous markets. NMPF looks forward to reviewing the details of the agreement and working with the Administration to ensure Indonesia upholds its end of the bargain.”

As outlined in a White House factsheet issued yesterday, Indonesia will eliminate tariffs on approximately 99% of U.S. exports; recognize U.S. regulatory oversight, including by listing all U.S. dairy facilities and accepting certificates issued by U.S. regulatory authorities; and commit to implement a fair and transparent process for handling geographical indications (GIs) to ensure common cheese names are respected.

“Yesterday’s announcement is an important step forward in advancing opportunities for U.S. dairy exporters. This deal is poised to strengthen our long-term partnership with Indonesia while giving U.S. dairy companies a better shot at competing fairly,” said Krysta Harden, president and CEO of USDEC. “While verification that Indonesia honors its commitments will be necessary, the removal of both tariff and nontariff barriers is precisely what our industry needs to create new momentum for U.S. dairy exports and deeper collaboration with a key Southeast Asian partner.”

“The prospect of having Indonesia commit to a more transparent and balanced approach to GIs would be a meaningful advance in the global fight to preserve the use of common food names like parmesan and feta,” said Jaime Castaneda, executive director of CCFN. “We commend the U.S. negotiators for prioritizing this issue, particularly at a time when European Union is attempting to expand their GI abuse in growing dairy markets and shut out the United States. We will work diligently with the U.S. government to hold Indonesia accountable to their commitments on common names.”

The United States exported $246 million in milk powders, whey products, cheese and other dairy ingredients to Indonesia in 2024, making it the seventh largest U.S. dairy export destination. The agreement complements ongoing work by NMPF and USDEC to support integration of school milk into Indonesia’s new Free Nutritious Meals program and foster greater collaboration on trade.

NMPF, USDEC and CCFN also welcomed the news that agreements had been struck this week with the Philippines and Japan, with details forthcoming.

ARLINGTON, VA – The National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) and the Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN) commended President Trump’s nomination of Dr. Julie Callahan to serve as Chief Agricultural Negotiator for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative.

“The role of Chief Agricultural Negotiator is critical to ensuring that American dairy farmers have a voice in trade negotiations,” said Gregg Doud, president and CEO of NMPF and a former USTR Chief Agricultural Negotiator. “Dr. Callahan is the right choice. Her expertise and leadership in agricultural trade policy is second to none. Dairy farmers and the entire U.S. dairy industry looks forward to working with her to open new export markets and hold our trading partners accountable. We ask that the Senate move swiftly to advance her confirmation process.”

Callahan currently serves as the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Agricultural Affairs and Commodity Policy where she leads on expanding and preserving market access opportunities for U.S. farmers and food manufacturers. Her impressive tenure in agricultural trade policy spans across a variety of leadership roles with USTR and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in addition to early career experience with the USDA Foreign Agricultural Service and the American Chemical Society.

“Dr. Callahan’s nomination today is a win for U.S. agriculture,” said Krysta Harden, president and CEO of USDEC. “The U.S. dairy industry depends on a proactive trade policy agenda to grow. Dr. Callahan brings deep trade policy expertise and an unmatched record of advocating for U.S. farmers and food manufacturers to a role vital to ensuring agriculture has a seat at the negotiating table. We look forward to working with her to drive back trade barriers and build markets for American dairy producers. USDEC calls on the Senate to quickly confirm her as our next Chief Agricultural Negotiator.”

“For far too long, the European Union has misused its geographical indications rules to monopolize common food names like ‘parmesan’ and block fair competition from U.S. producers,” said Jaime Castaneda, executive director of CCFN. “In her current role, Dr. Callahan has been leading the charge in preserving market access for U.S. common name producers in the face of these harmful EU policies. Her leadership will be instrumental in working to ensure that the European Union stops taking advantage of American farmers. We are excited for the opportunity to further work with her on this important mission and urge an expeditious confirmation process in the Senate.”

ARLINGTON, VA – The Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN), National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF) and U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC) said they appreciated the U.S. Trade Representative’s (USTR) decision to spotlight protection of common food names in the agency’s 2025 Special 301 Report released today. The annual report outlines major global intellectual property concerns. It highlighted the European Union’s persistent campaign to monopolize common names—such as “parmesan” and “feta”— through protectionist geographical indication (GI) policies. These efforts restrict the use of widely recognized food and beverage terms to only specific European producers and effectively cut U.S. producers out of certain key markets. “The European Union’s approach to geographical indications is entirely unacceptable. It intentionally crowds out fair competition by restricting market access for U.S. and international producers,” said Jaime Castaneda, executive director of CCFN. “Too many trading partners have been coerced into imposing trade barriers for products using common food and beverage names. We appreciate USTR’s ongoing recognition of this issue but urge the U.S. government to stop trading partners to succumbing to European pressures and imposing trade barriers on U.S. products.” “Europe’s misuse of geographical indications is nothing more than a trade barrier dressed up as intellectual property protection,” said Krysta Harden, president and CEO of USDEC. “It not only unfairly strips American producers of the right to use common, widely understood terms, but significantly handcuffs commercial export opportunities. We welcome USTR’s focus on this issue and appreciate the administration’s dedication to protecting U.S. market access rights.” “Last year, the United States imported nearly $3 billion more in dairy products from the European Union than we exported to Europe. Europe’s abuse of the GI system is a significant reason for that deficit,” said Gregg Doud, president and CEO of NMPF. “EU GI schemes create a two-tiered system that benefits European producers and stamps out competition. We appreciate that USTR is addressing this unfair practice and look forward to continuing to work together to level the playing field for U.S. dairy producers.” CCFN submitted comments to the agency in January, which broke down the many markets where U.S. dairy producers’ common name rights are being threatened. NMPF and USDEC filed supporting comments noting the urgency for action to address this pressing trade barrier. CCFN Senior Director Shawna Morris built on those comments at a Feb. 19 USTR hearing, where she underlined how the EU misuses geographical indications and why it’s imperative for the U.S. government to match the EU’s efforts on common names.

ARLINGTON, VA – The U.S. Dairy Export Council (USDEC), National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF), and Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN) praised yesterday’s reintroduction of the Safeguarding American Food and Export Trade Yields Act (SAFTEY Act). Led by Senators John Thune, R-SD, Tammy Baldwin, D-WI, Roger Marshall, R-KS, and Tina Smith, D-MN, in the Senate and Representatives Dusty Johnson, R-SD, Jim Costa, D-CA, Michelle Fischbach, R-MN, and Jimmy Panetta, D-CA, in the House, the bipartisan legislation would direct USDA to partner with the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to prioritize the protection of common names like “parmesan” and “bologna” in international trade negotiations. “For years, many foreign countries have succumbed to the EU pressures to exploit geographical indication rules to confiscate common food and beverage names that American and foreign producers in the new world have used for generations,” said Jaime Castaneda, Executive Director of CCFN. “This lack of action has cost U.S. producers too much for too long. The Safeguarding American Food and Export Trade Yields Act is a critical step toward ensuring that American producers can count on their government to establish a policy of fairness in the global market. We thank Senators Thune, Baldwin, Marshall and Smith and Representatives Johnson, Costa, Fischbach and Panetta for their steadfast support.” Since 2009, the EU has used trade negotiations and geographical indication (GI) rules to confiscate common names for their own producers—essentially monopolizing certain products in specific markets. For American farmers and manufacturers, this has led to lost commercial opportunities overseas and expensive fights domestically. The EU has escalated this campaign in recent years, coercing third-party countries to adopt the EU’s GI rules as part of trade negotiations. “When the EU restricts our ability to market and sell our cheeses using ‘parmesan,’ ‘feta,’ and ‘asiago,’ it costs U.S. dairy producers markets and consumers that our members have built up over years,” said Krysta Harden, President and CEO of USDEC. “It is past time that the U.S. government take a more proactive approach to tackling this challenge. A new emphasis on common name protections—headlined by the SAFETY Act—will ensure that our producers can compete on a more level playing field around the world. Thank you to Senators Thune, Baldwin, Marshall and Smith and Representatives Johnson, Costa, Fischbach and Panetta for leading this important effort.” By amending the Agricultural Trade Act of 1978, the legislation defines “common names” and directs USDA to join forces with USTR to proactively defend these terms in export markets. Originally introduced in May 2023, the bill represents the first farm bill effort on common names. “Losing the right to use common names has direct, on-the-ground consequences for U.S. dairy farmers,” said Gregg Doud, President and CEO of NMPF. “We appreciate Senators Thune, Baldwin, Marshall and Smith and Representatives Johnson, Costa, Fischbach and Panetta taking up this fight. U.S. producers deserve fair competition. The SAFETY Act is an important milestone to making that a reality.”

ARLINGTON, VA – Today, the Consortium for Common Food Names (CCFN) praised the current Administration for their proactive defense of common names during U.S. Trade Representative Chief Agricultural Negotiator Doug McKalip’s two-day trip to Wisconsin to meet with U.S. dairy industry representatives and amplify U.S. government efforts to protect common food and beverage names.

McKalip discussed the set of commitments outlined by the US-Chile agreement, which will safeguard the rights of U.S. cheese and meat exporters to use certain common names – such as “parmesan” and “prosciutto” – to market and sell their products in the Chilean market.

“CCFN greatly appreciates the work of USDA and USTR to proactively work to defend common names with a key country. Ambassador McKalip is demonstrating that we can pursue a win-win situation of coexisting with products from Europe,” said Jaime Castaneda, Executive Director. “However, Chile is just one of many markets that the European Union has targeted to monopolize common names. Looking forward, it’s critical that the U.S. government create the necessary leverage to secure the protection of export opportunities for common name producers in other markets as well.”

Throughout his meetings this week with dairy and meat producers, processors, and industry organizations, McKalip elaborated on the efforts by US government to balance the EU’s aggressive stance on GIs and spent time learning about the industry’s wider set of trade challenges and priorities.

Please find more background on common names at www.commonfoodnames.com and CCFN’s response to the U.S.-Chile agreement here.