2020-2021学年度第29期总第823期
Furthering global trade (P4)
山东省烟台第二中学 赵娜娜
Lead-in
Have you ever bought products from other countries? Do you ever doubt that the products are authentic?

The GI label is used to show the specific geographical origin of a product. It is an important type of intellectual property right and a quality guarantee.

While-reading
Read the text carefully and answer the following questions.

1. What is the main idea of the passage?
2. Illustrate GIs using examples.
3. What are the benefits of the agreement?
4. What is the prospect of the agreement?

Reading for details
1. What is the main idea of the passage?

An agreement signed by China and the European Union may change the nature of global agricultural trade. The new deal on region-specific (专属某地的) names called geographical indications (GIs) took effect on March 1, marking a milestone in China-EU relations.

2. Illustrate GIs using examples.

Think Champagne or Cognac, names of liquors (酒) that come from specific areas of France. These names are a type of intellectual property (IP), and they give the rights on the use of the name where the product’s quality, reputation or other characteristic is due to its geography.
Only single malt whiskeys (单一麦芽威士忌) made in Scotland can be called “scotch”.
Anji White Tea refers to a specific type of green tea produced in Huzhou, Zhejiang province.
The Yantai apple is bright in color and has a sweet and succulent (多汁的) taste.

3. What are the benefits of the agreement?

Now that the GIs are protected, consumers from China and the EU don’t need to worry about the authenticity (正宗) of purchased goods.

It will help producers protect local competitiveness, improve the quality and reputation of goods, and protect consumers from counterfeiting (造假).

It is expected that the sales of Chinese food in Italy and Europe will grow rapidly.

4. What is the prospect of the agreement?

The GI list will be extended during the next four years, with 175 additional products from each side to be added. The extended list includes traditional Chinese cultural products such as Shu Brocade (蜀绣), Huangmei Cross-stitch (十字绣), Xuan Paper and Qingshen Bamboo Weaving.
Post-reading

What products do you want to be included on the GI list?

Language study

1. An agreement signed by China and the European Union may change the nature of global agricultural trade. The new deal on region-specific (专属某地的) names called geographical indications (GIs) took effect on March 1, marking a milestone in China-EU relations.
2. These names are a type of intellectual property (IP), and they give the rights on the use of the name where the product’s “quality, reputation or other characteristic” is due to its geography.
3. Now that the GIs are protected, consumers from China and the EU don’t need to worry about the authenticity (正宗) of purchased goods.
4. It “will help producers protect local competitiveness, improve the quality and reputation of goods, and protect consumers from counterfeiting (造假) ... and helps high-quality Chinese food enter the homes of ordinary people in Italy,
5. The GI list will be extended during the next four years, with 175 additional products from each side to be added.

Homework
Introduce the agreement to your partners.