Dazi Usa: danger postponed for 6 months

After the 'made in Italy' liqueurs, affected by the duties since October 18, 2019, even wines exported to the United States could now risk heavy price increases. For the time being, close negotiations between EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the Trump administration have averted the danger. The Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry has played a decisive role in this process, demonstrating its ability and authority and its constant presence at the European tables.

 

The fear of a tightening of US import duties for PDO and PGI products has therefore vanished and the supply chain can breathe a sigh of relief and focus on actions to give stability to the market. The good news comes in these hours together with the publication of the list of the American Ustr which indicates the products subject to duties and in which the Italian agri-food industry does not appear.

 

"A further increase in duties over 25% of the value applied in October would have been a serious blow for the entire PDO and PGI production chain - said Cesare Baldrighi President of OriGIn Italia - as well as for importers and US consumers who are looking for specific distinctiveness in our products. On several occasions - he adds - we have expressed the hope and conviction that only an effective work of both Italian and European institutions would have been useful to our cause and today's important result confirms that we have placed our trust well".

 

"Since the entry into force of the duties, turnover in the US market has decreased on average by 35% - commented Micaela Pallini, Chairman of the Federvini Spirits Group. - We are witnessing a progressive decrease in the marginality of sales as companies have had to absorb part of the duties without affecting the market, to the detriment, above all, of small and medium sized companies that make up a large part of the production fabric. In addition, the uncertainty of seeing a different scenario every 6 months further complicates the possibility of starting investments or strategies".

 

Piero Mastroberardino, President of the Federvini Wines Group, was in a different mood, saying: "The American market represents the first outlet for our wine. According to the latest data, total exports in value, in 2019, reached 1 billion 750 million euros and a growth on an annual basis of 4.2% But this trend is potentially in danger of slowing down - agrees with Pallini - The sword of Damocles of duties remains on our products: in 6 months' time, with the new round of the carousel, our companies will be anxious again, because they have no way of forecasting exactly how to plan investments and plan activities".

 

"The problem of duties is certainly not solved by today's decision - says Paolo Castelletti Secretary General of UIV - and will continue to occupy our political agenda in the coming weeks. The duties are still in force for a very sensitive part of Italian agrifood, just as most European wine remains penalized. The fact that agriculture and our sector are paying a dispute over the aerospace sector, which is leading to business losses and investments in the world of wine, is extremely worrying and generates uncertainty even for companies in those sectors, such as Italian wine, which at the moment are not affected by tariffs". Hence the need to continue the dialogue with the Trump government to encourage a process of easing transatlantic relations. Unione Italiana Vini appeals first of all to the European Commission to "find an agreement in the very short term with the United States to resolve the Airbus issue - continues Castelletti - but we also ask the EU and US governments to build a positive agenda on trade, further opening access to their respective markets for the wine sector and removing all tariffs on wine, in the logic of the "zero for zero" principle.

 

Let us remember that our aperitifs and liqueurs always remain in the eye of the storm.

 

In the opening photo: U.S. Secretary of State Sonny Perdue and the Minister of Agriculture on. Teresa Bellanova.