Made in Italy is almost safe in the USA. Coldiretti has announced the entry into force of the agreement between the President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and US President Joe Biden on the suspension of all tariffs related to Airbus-Boeing disputes on aircraft and non-aircraft products for an initial period of 4 months.
The end of the trade war between the two sides of the Atlantic has triggered the race for Made in Italy in the USA with stocks of Parmigiano Reggiano, Grana Padano, Gorgonzola, Asiago, Fontina, Provolone but also salami, mortadella, shellfish, citrus fruits, juices and liqueurs such as bitters and limoncello. In 2020, exports of Italian cheeses dropped by 21%, while other Made in Italy products lost about 40% of their export value. Only Italian wine is saved, which, however, suffered the consequences of the restaurant lockdown with a decline of 4% in 2020.
The additional 25% tariff on a long list of products imported from Italy and the European Union, which came into force on October 18th, 2019 on the initiative of former President Donald Trump, has favored the spread on the US market of American imitations – which do not have to respect the strict regulations of national productions – such as Parmesan, whose worldwide production has even surpassed that of the original Parmigiano Reggiano and Grana Padano.
On Parmigiano Reggiano, the additional tariffs weighed from $ 2.15 to $ 6 per kilo more, with an increase in the shelf price for American consumers from $ 40 to $ 45 per kilo. “The suspension of additional duties on European agri-food products by the new Biden administration, as part of a broader agreement with the European Union, is truly a breath of fresh air for Emilia-Romagna agri-food exports to the USA in particular for dairy products such as Parmigiano Reggiano” commented the Councilor for Agriculture of the Emilia-Romagna Region, Alessio Mammi.
The United States is the first extra-European market for the export of Made in Italy agri-food, for a record value of close to 5 billion in 2020, up by 5% despite the Covid emergency and duties. “The conditions are in place for a new historical record for Italian national agri-food exports to the United States, where as the vaccination campaign progresses, restaurants that represent a decisive outlet market for Italian producers begin to reopen “said the President of Coldiretti, Ettore Prandini, confident in the arrival of a definitive agreement.
“The global pandemic has put the value of quality, controlled and safe food at the center, such as that which comes from our territories. I am convinced that this is the time in which a concerted effort by all countries is needed to create a global market of opportunities, to put aside trade wars between countries that do not benefit anyone “, concluded Councilor Mammi in a press release, thanking the European Commission “for the effort made in obtaining this important result of political mediation with the United States”.
