The latest tariff review by the US administration brings mixed news for the Italian dairy sector. While some major competitors have benefited from a new trade agreement that reduced duties from 25% to 15%, the situation for Pecorino Romano PDO remains unchanged, with the tariff confirmed at 10%. This ongoing levy is an increasingly unsustainable burden for the sector as it navigates a delicate international landscape.
Industry concerns and the call for political support
Gianni Maoddi, President of the Pecorino Romano PDO Protection Consortium, expressed his reaction to the official trade announcement. “At the moment, everything is confirmed as it was,” Maoddi stated. “We are currently analyzing the 400-page document and waiting for the ministerial task force to convene. We hope that there are still avenues to have our product included among the exempted goods. We continue to work intensely on this, monitoring every margin that ongoing negotiations may offer.”
However, the sector is calling for more robust support from national and regional policymakers. Maoddi emphasized that urgent interventions are necessary to protect a product that is fundamental to the economy of Sardinia and the broader Italian agri-food industry.
Regional support and future outlook
In response to these challenges, the regional government has taken steps to assist the industry by extending financial instruments activated through the region’s in-house company to the dairy sector. This move has been welcomed by the Consortium as a crucial lifeline.
“This is a long-awaited measure that meets the needs of our supply chain at a time when every form of support is vital,” Maoddi noted. “We trust in the expertise of both the Region and Sfirs to enter the operational phase immediately. There is not a minute to lose: the new production campaign begins in two months, and we must reverse the trend to guarantee stability for the entire sector.”
