Starbucks and the Ethiopian government have reached an agreement which could help end a dispute over trademarks. The two sides agreed in principle to sign a licensing and marketing deal which recognizes the importance of Ethiopia's speciality coffee beans. Cultivation of the coffee bean first began in Ethiopia, and the country has been seeking to trademark its best-known coffee beans. However, US officials have argued that the plan is not economically viable.
Ethiopia and UK charity Oxfam claimed Starbucks was attempting to block plans by the African nation to trademark its Sidamo, Harar and Yirgacheffe coffee beans. But the coffee chain giant denied initiating opposition to the trademark application, insisting the decision to do so was taken by the US National Coffee Association (NCA).
The NCA had warned that if Ethiopia succeeded in obtaining the trademarks, it may price its coffee beans uncompetitively high.
Ethiopia hopes to substantially lift the income of its coffee farmers through the trademarking plan. The eyes of Africa will be on this agreement, which could even set a precedent for further deals beyond Ethiopia in the future.
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Wow! Talk about America using its power. How does America have a say in Ethiopia trademarking ITS coffee bean? Explain that. Oh, yeah it is not economically advantageous to the US so they strong arm Ethiopian government into a licensing and marketing deal. It is these very acts that make others despise the good ole USA. They are masking this deal as "GOOD" for Ethiopian economy and farmers. I beg to differ. No one puts a cap on the profit of American industries, how dare the US manipulate the amount of profit Ethiopia can gain on THEIR coffee beans. I have to say I am not an addicted starbucks coffee drinker and after reading this I just had my last cup.
The NCA, Starbucks and the US just want to see Ethiopia starving. This action is a self-sustaining attempt for a country that produces the world's best supply of the #2 most traded commodity in the WORLD (Only oil ranks higher as a commodity) yet has the poorest people. It is not too much to demand that Ethiopian farmers get paid a fair price for their product.
You don't believe me? Watch Black Gold. I'm planning a community viewing of it and I'll keep you posted.
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