Mexico, Philippines square off over mangoes
By Lisa J. Adams
Associated Press
MEXICO CITY — Since the thriving galleon trade between New Spain and the Philippines first brought seedlings of the Manila mango to Acapulco more than 200 years ago, Mexico has gradually made the fruit its own.
Antonio Aurelio • Associated Press
It wants to officially adopt the name — but the Philippine government is fighting for custody.
Mexican mango growers have launched a campaign to obtain a so-called domain of origin for the Manila mango. That type of patent would restrict the use of the name Manila to mangoes grown in Mexico and would even prevent Filipino growers from using the name.
As both countries seek to expand exports of mangoes and other fresh produce to nations worldwide, Mexican growers have launched a novel effort to obtain a so-called geographical indication or domain of origin for the Manila mango, a type of patent that would restrict the use of the name to mangoes grown in Mexico. Producers seeking the domain of origin must apply for the designation from the appropriate agencies in their own government, while complying with World Trade Organization rules that regulate the global flow of commerce.
A domain of origin certifies a product's excellence, increasing its exports. It also protects its name from infringement by others — in this case, growers in the Philippines, where mangoes are now produced under the name Manila Super Mango or Carabao.
The Manila mango does not pose much of a threat to the Philippines at the moment. Although Mexico is the world's largest mango exporter, Manila mangoes represent less than 1 percent of its $130 million in annual exports because of the variety's fragility and to a fruit-fly problem that is also an obstacle to obtaining the domain of origin.
But Mexican growers are working to resolve those problems and convert the small, pale-yellow, intensely juicy Manila into an export success.
In the meantime, Mexico is gaining some mileage from the Manila name through other mangoes. In the United States, the name Honey Manila is often applied to the Ataulfo variety from southern Chiapas state, said Blanca Nelly Partida, a representative of Mexico's national mango export association.
The Filipinos don't want to lose the right to use a name that originated in their country — or to see Mexico profiting unfairly from it. They also have hinted that they might try to obtain the domain of origin for themselves.
"Mexico acknowledges that their Manila mango variety came from the Philippines," said Adrian S. Cristobal, director-general of the Philippine Intellectual Property Office, or IPO. "By using the name Manila mango, the public can be misled as to the true origin of the fruit. ... This is essentially unfair competition."
Cristobal said government officials may invoke a an international agreement that allows WTO nations to stop other members from obtaining a domain of origin if it misleads consumers as to a product's true origin.
But the Manila mango case is uncommon because it redefines the label's traditional concept of origin, said Mexico agricultural economist Yolanda Trapaga.
While the designation usually is based on a product's geographic origin — such as the town of Tequila, Mexico — the Manila mango's domain would refer to Mexican hybridization and cultivation practices, cultural distinctions that supposedly make the variety unique. The WTO does not currently recognize domains of origin based on cultural distinctions, however, so countries work out agreements with their trading partners, Trapaga said.
The way Mexico sees it, the Manila mango long ago became a product unique to this country.
Although Manila seedlings arrived in Mexico from the Philippines in 1779 during the galleon trade, the variety was crossed with other mangoes over the years, so today's Manila mangoes possess a genetic mix found only in Mexico, said Hector Cabrera, an expert with Mexico's National Institute of Forest, Agricultural and Livestock research.
Mexico shipped more than $130 million in mangoes in 2004, the majority to the United States, the Economy Department reported.
The Philippines shipped $31 million to its four top markets in 2004: Japan, Hong Kong, South Korea and China, according to the country's trade department. Philippines growers hope to increase their mango exports to $70 million, the trade department said.
Mexican Agriculture Secretary Javier Usabiaga said during a recent Asia trade mission that Mexico recognizes "a conflict of interests with the Philippines." But he said it could easily be resolved, once Mexico's Manila mango hits the export shelves. The quality of the fruit will speak for itself, he said, and "there will be no need to give it any particular name."
