The Trump administration slapped 25 per cent tariffs on French wine, Italian cheese and single-malt Scotch whisky – but spared Italian wine, pasta and olive oil – in retaliation for EU tariffs on large aircraft.
The list released by the US trade representative today includes more than 150 products, mainly from those four nations but also across Europe, that will face a 25 per cent tariff from October 18.
The list includes all cheeses made with cows’ milk, as well as pecorino, which is made with sheeps’ milk.
The tariff will push the price of authentic parmesan cheese up from around US$40 a kilo to over US$45, the Parmigiano Reggiano consortium said.
Italian fruits, clams and yogurt will also be taxed by 25 per cent.
Meanwhile, Italy’s wines, cured meats and olive oils have been spared from the tariffs.
It had been feared that extra charges would be applied to a wider range of Italian produce – especially olive oil and prosecco, for which the US is Italy’s biggest export market.
The list also refers to “prepared or preserved pork hams”, but the director of the consortium for San Daniele prosciutto told Italian newsagency ANSA that this does not include cured meats, meaning Italian cold cuts won’t be hit either.
The US trade representative said it would “continually re-evaluate these tariffs based on our discussions with the EU” and expects to enter talks in a bid to resolve the dispute.
