최근 통상조약에서 나타난 지리적 표시 쟁점 및 시사점

Geographical Indications(GIs) stipulate the protection of GI in the Paris Convention, the Lisbon Agreement and are also covered in trade treaties such as the WTO/TRIPS Agreement and the FTAs. Recently, major new treaties were signed in the fields of international trade such as CPTPP, USMCA, and Economic and Trade Agreement between the United States of America and the People’s Republic of China. And these treaties are characterized by the American negative approach on GI. GI framework of the CPTPP was similarly reflected in the USMCA, both treaties include opposition and cancellation provisions and the procedure for acquiring, challenging and cancelling GI. And those exclude an customary term that is part of a multi-component term from being protected as a GI. The U.S.-China agreement has the same provisions and further included cancellation GI protected by existing agreements with other countries. This is the opposite approach to the EU, which expands and promotes strong protection of GI. EU is actively engaged in international moves to strengthen GIs, such as a GI protection agreement with China. In particular, as part of such that approach, EU has recently been calling for the revision of the Korea-EU FTA and the addition of list of GIs. In these situations Korea should come up with balanced countermeasures in consideration of our relations with the two economic powers of the U.S. and the EU, and establish our own direction for GI by proactively recognizing possible conflict problems in the process and preparing various measures that can be presented in each negotiation.