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,