As appeard on the Ethiopian Weekly, Addis Fortune By Wondwossen Mezlekia Seattle, Washington The world’s giant specialty coffee roaster and retailer, Starbucks, comes to Ethiopia, for a second time, amid growing pressure it faces in a number of countries, where it is accused of obstinately opposing Ethiopia’s US trademark efforts in order to maintain its market power. Last year, Starbucks CEO Jim Donald visited Prime Minister Meles Zenawi hoping in vain to convince the country to accept the company’s advice. Company representatives will be in Addis Ababa again this week to attend the East Africa Fine Coffee Association (EAFCA) annual meeting. It will continue to promote Starbucks’ interests while continuing its effort to prevent Ethiopia from taking control of its coffee trademarks in the US. Trademark ownership, as Starbucks knows because it aggressively protects its own trademarks, can help improve coffee prices for Ethiopia’s farmers. The Ethiopian coffee sector launched an innovati...