WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  TN/C/4 
13 July 2004 
 
 (04-2999) 
Trade Negotiations Committee 
30 June 2004 Original:   English 
 
 
 
STATEMENT BY SWITZERLAND 
 
  
 The following statement made by Switzerla nd on behalf of the Friends of Geographical 
Indications at the Trade Negotiations Committee m eeting on 30 June 2004 unde r Item 2, is being 
circulated to Members at the request of that delegation.   
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JOINT STATEMENT BY THE GI-FRIENDS GROUP 
  
 I am pleased to issue the following statem ent on behalf of the Friends of Geographical 
Indications that are more than 50 Members of the WTO.   Today’s statement builds on the one made by Ke nya on behalf of the GI-Friends group at the 
last TNC meeting of 21
st of April. In the Group’s statement, I would like to (1) recall the 
commitments WTO Members took in Doha with regard  to extension of the protection of geographical 
indications provided by Article 23 of the TRIPS Ag reement to products other than wines and spirits 
(hereinafter ‘GI-extension’) (2) refer to the goal of ‘GI-extension’ and why it holds opportunities and benefits for all WTO Members alike, with particular  respect for developing countries, and finally (3) 
reiterate what action WTO Members need to take  at this stage of the negotiation process.  
 
 
I. ‘GI-EXTENSION’ IN THE DOHA ROUND 
 
Ministers in Doha and WTO Members in subsequent TNC meetings
1 declared that they attach the 
utmost importance to the issue of ‘GI-extension’ and that negotiations on ‘GI-extension’ shall be an 
integral part of the Work Programme they est ablished for the Doha Round. To date, however, no 
progress has been made.    The members of the GI-Friendsgroup consider ‘GI-ext ension’ to be an essential element of a balanced 
outcome of the Doha Round. At a crucial time in the Doha Round, when important decisions in other 
fields of negotiations await adoption, a clear signal mu st be given that GI extension will be part of the 
overall results of the negotiations.   
 
                                                     
 
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 II. THE GOAL OF ‘GI-EXTENSION’  
 
The additional protection which the TRIPS Agreemen t currently reserves for geographical indications 
for wines and spirits ensures that such geographical  indications are only used for wines and spirits 
which actually originate from the place indicated by the GI, thereby guaranteeing that only the 
genuine product reaches the end consumer with th e GI attached. This is the very purpose of 
geographical indications and such level of protec tion should apply to all geographical indications, 
irrespective of the nature of the product which they designate.  Only with this more effective leve l of protection at their disposal will also producers of tea, coffee, 
rice, silk, cotton, fruits, spices, tobacco, handicrafts , watches, carpets and any other product be able to 
prevent the usurpation of their geographical indi cations and the free-riding on the reputation and 
quality of their products. Neverthele ss, in the current situation, ge ographical indications of products 
other than wines and spirits can be usurped an d free-ridden upon by products not having the 
respective origin or quality. Thus, by such illegitimat e use, they risk to beco me generic, to lose all 
their economic potential and economic va lue and to deceive consumers.  
  
III. STRIKING THE RIGHT BALANCE 
 
‘GI-extension’ strikes the right balance between WTO Members as it will, on the one hand, create a 
level playing field and equal opportunities for th e use of geographical indications for all WTO 
Members (beyond those producing wines and spirits) for all their genuine products which have a 
specific geographical origin to which a specific qua lity, reputation or other characteristic is linked. 
  On the other hand, concerns of some WTO Members a bout the effects of ‘GI-extension’ in relation to 
a maybe wrong but long established and good fait h past uses of GIs for products without the 
respective origin are taken into account: the exceptions from protection as provided today by the TRIPS Agreement in relation to the additional protec tion shall also apply to ‘GI-extension’. This is 
the balance that was struck for wines and spirits  at the end of the Uruguay Round. The regime for 
wines and spirits has worked well and there is  no reason why it shouldn’t for other products. 
 
 
IV. OPPORTUNITIES AND BENEFITS OF ‘GI-EXTENSION’ FOR ALL MEMBERS 
 
That ‘GI-extension’ holds a great potential for a ll WTO Members has been impressively shown by 
producers of GI-products from all over the world urging the WTO at its recent public symposium to 
make progress on ‘GI-extension’ with the motto “let ’s preserve localisation within globalization”. 
Producers and speakers from a wide range of WTO Members such as China, France, Guatemala, 
India, Italy, Kenya, Morocco, the United States and Switzerland came to Geneva to attend the Symposium and to explain why they depend on a more  effective protection of GIs for their products 
by WTO law to make a better living.   
The benefits of ‘GI-extension’ and better protecti on of geographical indications resulting from it will 
foster sustainable development of local rural co mmunities, employment in decentralised regions, 
support the establishment of other economic activities such as tourism, preserve traditional knowledge 
and biodiversity. In a time of liberalization in these sectors, ‘extension’ will help make geographical 
indications a valuable tool for the marketing and promotion of quality prod ucts and will thus offer 
new market opportunities.  
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 IV. CONCLUSION 
 
Given the mandate of Ministers in the Doha Declaration and the widespread interest of WTO members in obtaining a better protection of GIs also  for products other than wines and spirits, it is 
crucial for the GI-Friends group that ‘extension’ is part of the outcome of the Doha Round and, 
‘extension’ being an implementation issue accordi ng to para. 12 and 18 of the Doha Ministerial 
Declaration, that this is appropriately reflected in  the package we are supposed to adopt by the end of 
July.   
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