“I am proud that this agreement is moving closer to its entry into force and reflects our commitment to work closely with our global trading partners such as China,” said Janusz Wojciechowski, Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development. The clean-up and translation of the text is expected to be completed by the end of 2019, before it can be approved in accordance with China and EU internal procedures. A GI is a distinctive feature for products with a specific geographical origin and with qualities or reputation due to that origin. The EU-China agreement will therefore offer significant protection of the intellectual property rights of products: it protects against translation, transcription or transliteration and against the use of protected geographical indications that are accompanied by expressions such as `species`, `type`, `style`, `imitation` or any other non-original product. Following the conclusion of the INTER agreement between the EU and China in November, the European Commission published the text, which may be subject to further changes as a result of the legal review. Appendixes V and VI (list of 175 PGiCs of the two parties that will be protected within four years of the agreement`s entry into force) and VII (crafts that could be protected in the future) will be published at a later date. Geographical indications have also proven to be a useful marketing tool that helps to guarantee producers higher and more stable export earnings: according to a study commissioned by the Commission in 2013, a product with a geographical indication sells on average more than double the price of a similar non-geographical indication product. In addition, China is a fast-growing market for food and beverage products in Europe. This agreement will therefore benefit European producers and should give a boost to the rural areas where these products are made. For Franck Riester, the signing of this agreement with the world`s second largest market power is an important step in the recognition of our system of protection of geographical indications. In a Chinese market that seeks to demonstrate the authenticity and quality of products, it meets a real demand and will add value to our agri-food exporters. It lays the groundwork for strengthening our economic relations with China on the basis of reciprocity and enhanced protection of our companies` intellectual property rights.” /. The Council today adopted decisions on the signing of the agreement between the European Union and the Government of the People`s Republic of China on geographical indications (G.G.

The agreement will protect 100 European GIs and as many Chinese GIs in the EU from usurpation and counterfeiting.