OXFAM has accused American coffee giant Starbucks of opposing a plan by Ethiopia to gain more control over its coffee trade.

Last year, the Ethiopian government tried to trademark the Sidamo, Harar and Yirgacheffe names.

Oxfam managers say Starbucks protested.

But Joanna Agnew, of Starbucks, said: "Starbucks has never filed an opposition to the Ethiopian government's trademark application, nor claimed ownership to any regional names."