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International Trade
International Trade

General Council PREPARATIONS FOR THE 1999 MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE

RESTRICTED
WT/GC/W/208 17 June 1999

(99-2459)
Original:English
Communication from Cuba, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Honduras, India
Indonesia, Nicaragua and Pakistan

The following communication, dated 10 June 1999, has been received from the Permanent Mission of Cuba.

Introduction
  • The protection of geographical indications is an industrial property measure which makes it possible to protect all products, whether man-made or natural, that are distinguished by their quality, reputation or the other characteristics essentially attributable to their geographical origin.
  • Section 3 (Articles 22-24) of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) regulates all matters relating to this important means of protection.
  • Article 23 grants additional protection exclusively for wines and spirits.
    • Proposal
      On different occasions, in the context of the Council for TRIPS, certain WTO Members have expressed interest in having the above-mentioned protection extended to cover other products of special importance to them. In this connection, the above-mentioned countries request that the said additional protection be extended to products other than wines and spirits.