102. The representative of Bolivia said that the proposal contained in document IP/C/W/247 was opportune. This Council was the appropriate forum to debate and resolve the issue of the extension of the protection of geographical indications for wines and spirits to those for other products. The different levels of protection established in the Agreement had created an imbalance between the obligations and rights of Members, which was contrary to the letter and spirit of the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the WTO. The importance of the protection of geographical indications stemmed from the fact that they reflected the value of traditional knowledge of local communities in which processes of production originated as well as climatic and geographical conditions under which certain goods were produced, i.e. natural and human factors. They also brought value added to the product which was not found in similar products from other regions and countries. His delegation agreed with Switzerland that geographical indications were not more or less a barrier to trade than any other intellectual property right. Their protection, whether for wines, spirits or any other products, should of course not be used so as to apply trade-distorting measures with respect to market access.
