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Abstract
Protected Geographic Indicators (PGI) and Product Differentiation of Origination (PDO) are
products that are linked to certain regions or countries that define them based on where they are
produced, prepared and/or packaged before they are sold. However, the exact interpretation of
PGI/PDOs is not synonymous around the world, leading to disputes over trade barriers between
nations. The goal of this paper is to discuss the quality and safety control issues that go into the
production of PGI/PDOs as well as trade regulations that are currently being discussed at the
World Trade Organization’s Doha multilateral trade agreements meetings. A comparison of
how countries mark PGI/PDO products is made by comparing two cheese industries: Wisconsin
Cheddar from the United States and Parmigiano Reggiano from Italy.
In theory, the World Trade Organization has a product labeling agreement that was created in
1979 under the Uruguay Round of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade. However, as
is most common, problems arise when countries begin to use their own forms of labeling, therefore
resulting in barriers of trade between countries (WTO). Due to diverse thought among
producers in different countries, there are often incentives that lead to different product labeling.