US President Donald Trump has announced a broad package of trade tariffs, targeting imports from more than 100 countries and affecting all goods entering the United States. The European Union, and by extension Italy, will face a 20% levy. A baseline 10% tariff on all imports is set to take effect on April 5, with additional duties following on April 9.
TARIFFS: ITALIAN FOOD EXPORTS IN THE CROSSHAIRS
The US remains a key market for Italian agri-food exports, which totaled €7.8 billion in 2024 in that country. According to Italian farmers’ associations, the most valuable segments include wine (€2 billion), olive oil (€1 billion), pasta (€1 billion), and cheese (€550 million).
PARMIGIANO REGGIANO INDUSTRY WARNS OF FALLOUT
Among the first to react was Nicola Bertinelli, president of the Parmigiano Reggiano PDO protection Consortium, who warned that the new measures would see tariffs on the iconic Italian cheese rise from 15% to 35%.
“This is far from welcome news, but as a premium product, a price increase does not automatically translate into lower consumption,” Bertinelli said. “We will push for a diplomatic solution, making clear that targeting Parmigiano Reggiano is illogical—it does not compete directly with American Parmesan-style cheeses.”
The US is Parmigiano Reggiano‘s single largest export market, accounting for 22.5% of total overseas sales. The “king of cheeses” commands a 7% share of the US hard cheese market and is sold at more than twice the price of domestic alternatives.
Bertinelli dismissed the idea that tariffs would help protect US producers, arguing that Parmigiano Reggiano occupies a separate segment of the market. “We are not competing with local cheeses,” he said. “These are entirely different products, with distinct positioning, production standards, and costs. Targeting a niche product like Parmigiano Reggiano to shield the US economy is fundamentally flawed.”
The Consortium noted that in 2019, when the Trump administration imposed a 25% tariff hike, Parmigiano Reggiano was among the hardest-hit European exports, with retail prices climbing from $40 to $45 per kilogram. However, demand remained resilient, and the tariffs were eventually lifted in March 2021.
“American consumers continue to choose Parmigiano Reggiano, even at higher prices,” Bertinelli said. “They have access to cheaper alternatives—often two to three times less expensive—but opt for quality. These tariffs do little to protect US producers and instead place an unnecessary burden on American consumers.”