The Benefits and Costs of Proliferation of Geographical Labelling for Developing Countries

Abstract

Food product attributes related to geographical origins are a topical issue in global food trade. The provision of geographical labelling may occur through geographical indications under the mandated trade rules of the TRIPS Agreement, trademarks, or country-of-origin labelling. The overall effect of the expansion of geographical labelling on developing countries depends on a complex mix of market opportunities that may yield substantial benefits as well as implementation costs. Increasingly, the analysis of this overall effect will need to evaluate the joint impacts of different forms of geographical labelling on the market position of developing countries.

Keywords: developing countries, geographical labelling, international trade, TRIPS

JEL Classification: F13, Q13, O19