This side letter to the USMCA between the U.S. and Mexico discusses the use of cheese names.
The Honorable Ildefonso Guajardo Villarreal
Secretary of Economy
Mexico
Dear Secretary Guajardo,
In connection with the signing on this date of the Agreement, I have the honor to confirm the following understanding reached between the Government of the United States of America (hereinafter the United States) and the Government of the United Mexican States (hereinafter Mexico) regarding the use of certain terms for cheeses produced and marketed in the United States and Mexico.
In recognition of their shared commitment to certainty and transparency in trade, the Parties recognize that the following terms are terms used in connection with cheeses from U.S. producers currently being marketed in Mexico. Mexico confirms that Mexican cheese producers also use these terms. Mexico confirms that market access of U.S. products in Mexico is not restricted due to the mere use of these individual terms.
List of individual terms (cheeses):
Blue
Blue vein
Brie
Burrata
Camembert
Cheddar
Chevre
Colby
Cottage
Coulommiers
Cream
Danbo
Edam
Emmental
Emmentaler
Emmenthal
Gouda
Grana
Havarti
Mascarpone
Monterey Jack
Mozzarella
Pecorino
Pepper Jack
Provolone
Ricotta
Saint-Paulin
Samsø
Swiss
Tomme
Tome
Toma
Tilsiter
I have the honor to propose that this letter and your letter in reply confirming that your Government shares this understanding, equally valid in English and Spanish, shall constitute an agreement between our two Governments, to enter into force on the date of entry into force of the Agreement.
Sincerely,
Ambassador Robert E. Lighthizer
Ambassador Robert E. Lighthizer
U.S. Trade Representative
Office of the U.S. Trade Representative
600 17th Street, N.W. Washington D.C. 20508
Dear Ambassador Lighthizer,
I am pleased to acknowledge your letter of XX, 2018, which reads as follows:
In connection with the signing on this date of the Agreement, I have the honor to confirm the following understanding reached between the Government of the United States of America (hereinafter the United States) and the Government of the United Mexican States (hereinafter Mexico) regarding the use of certain terms for cheeses produced and marketed in the United States and Mexico.
In recognition of their shared commitment to certainty and transparency in trade, the Parties recognize that the following terms are terms used in connection with cheeses from U.S. producers currently being marketed in Mexico. Mexico confirms that Mexican cheese producers also use these terms. Mexico confirms that market access of U.S. products in Mexico is not restricted due to the mere use of these individual terms.
List of individual terms (cheeses):
o Blue
o Blue vein
o Brie
o Burrata
o Camembert
o Cheddar
o Chevre
o Colby
o Cottage
o Coulommiers
o Cream
o Danbo
o Edam
o Emmental
o Emmentaler
o Emmenthal
o Gouda
o Grana
o Havarti
o Mascarpone
o Monterey Jack
o Mozzarella
o Pecorino
o Pepper Jack
o Provolone
o Ricotta
o Saint-Paulin
o Samsø
o Swiss
o Tomme
o Tome
o Toma
o Tilsiter
I have the honor to propose that this letter and your letter in reply confirming that your Government shares this understanding, equally valid in English and Spanish, shall
constitute an agreement between our two Governments, to enter into force on the date of entry into force of the United States-Mexico Trade Agreement.
I have the further honor to confirm that Mexico shares this understanding and that your letter and this letter in reply constitutes an understanding between the Mexico and the United States, which shall enter into force on the date of entry into force of the Agreement.
Sincerely,