Despite the federal shutdown that has hampered parts of the US administration since 1 October, the Consortium for the protection of Pecorino Romano PDO pressed ahead with a series of meetings on Capitol Hill, including the Rayburn and Cannon House Office Buildings.
Led by President Gianni Maoddi and Director Riccardo Pastore, the delegation sought a 15% tariff exemption imposed by the Trump administration, which threatens roughly $170 million in annual cheese exports. “Pecorino Romano has no domestic production alternative in the US. Applying tariffs on a product with no local competition protects no one,” Maoddi said.
This renowned Italian cheese represents a crucial economic and cultural link, supporting tens of thousands of families and serving as a staple of Italian-American cuisine. The Consortium has invested over $7 million in US promotional activities in recent years.
BIPARTISAN STRATEGY AND SUPREME COURT WATCH
The delegation engaged lawmakers and staff from New York and New Jersey, where consumption is highest, as well as members of the Italian-American Congressional caucus. Their goal: build a bipartisan front ahead of a US Supreme Court ruling on 5 November, which may redefine tariff authority.
The Consortium is the only agri-food body included in the Italian Foreign Ministry’s crisis unit, alongside sectors such as wine, steel, and mineral water, and has developed a structured lobbying network to influence US import policy.
LOOKING AHEAD
In the coming weeks, the Consortium plans to:
- Push for a bipartisan tariff review.
- Provide market analysis on the economic impact of duties.
- Strengthen institutional and agro-food diplomacy.
- Promote PDO Pecorino Romano as a symbol of Italian culinary heritage globally.
“Defending Pecorino Romano means defending a sustainable agricultural model and a cultural bridge between two friendly nations,” Maoddi concluded.