EU clash over cheese names: Feta, Parmesan and Asiago take center stage

The United States and the European Union are engaged in a long-running trade dispute over the use of cheese names such as feta, Parmesan, and Asiago. Both sides are trying to ensure that their own rules dominate international markets. A typical example is the Sartori family from Wisconsin, which has been producing Asiago cheese for four generations, continuing a tradition started by Italian immigrant Paolo Sartori. However, under pressure from Europe, many countries are prohibiting American companies from using the name “Asiago,” arguing that it should be reserved exclusively for cheese produced in specific regions of Italy and according to…