The European Commission recently announced the end of the EU-China Agreement on Protection of Geographical Indications negotiations, which began in 2010.

This is the first trade agreement that the EU concludes with this Strategic Partner, and is a relevant political signal of openness of the Parties to other Agreements.

China is the second destination for exports of protected products such as EU Geographical Indications, and currently the 5th largest export market for the Wines of Alentejo.
 
The Agreement will ensure a high level of protection of EU Geographical Indications in the Chinese market, in a very relevant matter for Portugal, and will result in reciprocal trade benefits.
 
Wines of Alentejo are among the six Geographical Indications among the 100 to be protected since the entry into force of the Agreement, which is expected to take place by the end of 2020 (Pêra Rocha do Oeste, Wines of Alentejo, Dão and Douro, Porto and Vinho Verde).
 
Over the next four years, protection will be extended to over 175 European Geographical Indications, with Portugal having seven products on this list (Moura Olive Oil, Trás-os-Montes, Alentejo Interior, Barrancos Presunto/ Barrancos Palette, S. Jorge Cheese, Bairrada Wine and Madeira Wine).