EU, US agree to protect French champagne, other names

The European Union and the United States are about to agree on the wine trade that will help protect some of the most famous European names ike champagne, chianti, madeira and sherry.

Under the agreement, the use of the names by producers in the United States - where they are currently considered semi-generic - will be limited, the European Commission said in a statement.

Furthermore, U.S. authorities will exempt EU exports from new certification requirements among other measures to smooth trade, the statement said.

The EU and the United States have been at loggerheads over the wine trade for 20 years.

Top EU trade officials held talks with their U.S. counterparts in Washington on Wednesday.

The French Wine Exporters Federation welcomed the deal, saying it would secure the country's wine exports to the United States, the AP reports.