News

McKalip praises trade agreement with Chile

A key U.S. trade official says a new agreement with Chile will help improve market access for a number of U.S. cheese and meat products.

Doug McKalip, Chief Ag Negotiator in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, says the agreement confirms a mutual understanding that U.S. producers of meats and cheeses will not be excluded from the Chilean market.

“There have been some efforts underway recently where the European Union and others have been trying to corner the market on certain names of products,” he said. “We here in the U.S. have been making high quality cheeses like parmesan and mozzarella for decades upon decades.”

According to USTR, the agreement gives U.S. producers the opportunity to grow their businesses and to supply Chilean consumers with specialty cheeses and meats using certain terms, including cheddar, gouda, provolone, prosciutto, and salami. The deal ensures that current and future U.S. exporters of certain cheeses and meats will continue to be able to use those terms in Chile going forward.

McKalip tells Brownfield Chile has been a key trading partner for the U.S. for decades. “Quite frankly, this agreement can serve as a model for several other negotiations we have happening underway right now around the globe.”

He says the deal will be treated as an integral part of the United State-Chile Free Trade Agreement, including for the purposes of dispute settlement.

INTERVIEW: Chief Ag Negotiator Doug McKalip 9-24-2024