“We’re ready to protest in front of the numerous American military bases in Italy in Montichiari, Ghedi, Longare and Vicenza to protest,” Stefano Berni, general manager of the Grana Padano Consortium, said in a statement.
The economic consequences of the ongoing tariff war between the US and the EU – initially caused by a feud over EU subsidies given to Airbus – have begun to affect Italian food producers.
The World Trade Organization claims that the EU subsidies to Airbus has adversely impacted the US, which will now put tariffs on US$11 billion of EU products.
Italian wines, citrus fruits and fruit juices would all be slapped with the tariffs, amounting to a total of US$5 to US$10 billion in losses according to Italian food consortiums.
Italy’s famed Parmigiano Reggiano and Grana Padano cheeses will be among the worst hit products.
In 2018, 10,000 tonnes of parmesan cheese – including Parmigiano Reggiano and Grana Padano – were exported overseas.
With Trump’s proposed taxes, already approved by the World Trade Organization, cheese industry leaders estimate consumption in the US will drop by 80 to 90 per cent.
Taxes of up to 100 per cent on the value of food products exported to the US could be applied as early as next October.
Industry leaders expect a total of 400,000 wheels of parmesan cheese will not be sold to the US as a result.
Teresa Bellanova, Italy’s agriculture minister, said that the tariffs “would endanger jobs, businesses, families, entire areas”.
“The US is the most important market for our wines and quality production,” she added.
“It is necessary and urgent to strengthen our dialogue with the US administration to avert such a huge risk.”
