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Terroir, the concept of an essential link between location of production and a specific quality attribute, is emerging as a contentious issue in trade negotiations and disputes. This issue is manifest through disputes and disagreements about appropriate protection of ‘geographical indications’ (GIs). This paper explores the differences in approach taken by the EU and the US towards GI protection, and illustrates the nature of the legal and economic arguments. The transatlantic dispute is spreading to other countries through the inclusion of GI protection in regional and bilateral trade pacts. It also has implications for the eventual conclusion of the WTO Doha Round negotiations, as the terroir issue arises in both the agricultural and the Trade-Related Intellectual Property (TRIPS) agendas, once again pitting the US and EU as protagonists. But there are signs of change in these positions as the GI system in the EU comes under review and producers in the US reconsider the possible advantages of location-based identifiers. These issues are important in a number of food sectors, and are likely to be persistent. They deserve more attention from practising applied economists than they have yet received. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on agricultural negotiations involving the World Trade Organization. Continuation of the Doha Round of trade negotiations; Concern on the agricultural components of the Doha Round; Difference between the Doha Round and Uruguay Round.

Focuses on several regional trade agreements involving the U.S. particularly the Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR). Purpose of engaging in several trade agreements; Overview of the CAFTA-DR; Growth of the U.S. trade with CAFTA.