The introduction of a 30% tariff by Trump's United States on Italian agri-food products has inevitably raised concerns among industry operators. Mauro Frantellizzi, General Manager of Lactalis Italia Export, also raised the alarm about the potential consequences for our country, calling the measure "a very severe blow" to Made in Italy.
"We welcome this news with concern," he emphasizes. "The United States is the largest non-EU market for Italian agri-food products, and the third largest overall after Germany and France. In 2024 alone, Italian cheese exports to the US grew by over 10%, both in volume and value, reaching a historic record."
The new tariff adds another critical factor: the devaluation of the dollar against the euro, which has exceeded 20% in the last year. "This double penalty risks making our products prohibitively expensive for American consumers, resulting in a drastic reduction in exports. We estimate that the decline in exports could be double that of 2019-2020, when the first tariffs caused a 20% contraction," adds Frantellizzi.
According to the manager, the combined impact of tariffs and the unfavorable exchange rate equates to an effective tariff exceeding 60% for some products, including the existing 10% tax on specific types of cheese. "This is an unsustainable situation for our sector," he continues, "which also affects the Italian restaurant sector in the US, which is strongly tied to authentic ingredients."
Mascarpone and Pecorino Romano, among the most popular in the HoReCa channel, risk becoming niche products, with negative effects on the image of Italian cuisine worldwide. "We are confident," he concludes, "that Italian and European institutions will take swift and effective action to protect agri-food exports, a strategic asset for the economy and for promoting our excellence worldwide. Lactalis Italia is ready to actively collaborate on this path."
