Geographical Indications and Community Empowerment in Asia: Navigating International Legal, Institutional and Trade Asymmetries

ABSTRACT Geographical indications (GIs) connect products to the places and communities from which they originate, preserving cultural identity while supporting economic development. In Asia, they play a crucial role in sustaining the livelihoods of farmers, artisans and craft producers; yet, the global rules that regulate them often reveal deep imbalances. Under the World Trade Organization's TRIPS Agreement, strong GI protection is granted mainly to wines and spirits. In contrast, other products, such as rice, tea, textiles and handicrafts, which are central to Asian traditions and economies, receive weaker international safeguards. The Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement provides a system for international GI registration through the World Intellectual Property Organization, but its centralised and costly procedures remain inaccessible to many Asian countries. Free Trade Agreements, particularly with the European Union, further consolidate European interests and reduce the policy flexibility of Asian governments. At the national and regional level, weak institutions and fragmented enforcement add to these challenges. This article argues for more inclusive and accessible systems of GI protection that broaden coverage to a wider range of products, simplify registration procedures and encourage stronger regional collaboration. Such reforms are essential not only to enhance the competitiveness of Asian products but also to safeguard cultural heritage and strengthen community identities in an increasingly global trading environment.