Halloumi Cheese: Cyprus blocks Sita trade deal between EU and Canada

Sita is a new problem with the European-Canadian Economic and Trade Agreement. Cyprus Parliament, a member of the European Union, has not ratified the agreement. In a vote on Friday, 37 MPs voted and 18 voted for the trade agreement.

From the standpoint of leftist party AKEL and socialists, Cypriot halloumi cheese and other agricultural products on the island are not adequately protected, the state broadcaster (RIK) reported. Cheese suitable for frying is a type of cypriots and national emblem, it is exported extensively. In the past, the “Foundation for the Protection of Traditional Cypriot Cheese, called Halloumi” had already fought a trademark dispute against Bulgaria.

Small producers threatened?

The state broadcaster reported that the Left parties criticized the Sita agreement because, in their opinion, it strengthened multinationals and saved small producers in disaster. The small party of the Greens complained that the settlement harms the environment and promotes the production of genetically modified food.

The Comprehensive Trade Agreement between the European Union and Canada aims to facilitate the export of goods and services and, according to Brussels, benefits consumers and businesses. It came into force temporarily in September 2017, and according to the European Union, most agreements will come into force.

In some national and in some cases even regional parliaments in European Union countries, Sita still has to be approved so that it can be fully legalized. Government circles said the government in Nicosia would try to negotiate some exceptions for Cyprus’ products before the agreement was again presented to the House of Representatives for approval. A spokesperson could not name a time for this.