Assolatte, Italy’s dairy industry association, is bracing for potential fallout from the U.S. presidential election, wary of the renewed tariffs that might follow a change in administration. “Regardless of who occupies the White House, we hope U.S.-EU relations continue in a spirit of friendship and shared cultural and economic values,” says Paolo Zanetti, Assolatte’s president. The concern is well-founded: in 2019, the Trump administration slapped a 25% tariff on key Italian cheeses, leading to a 6,000-ton drop in exports to the U.S. in 2020—a loss valued at €65 million, with another €40 million in additional costs.
Although tariffs were later suspended, the disruption underscored the U.S. market’s strategic importance for Italian producers. “Had the suspension not come before the inflation surge of recent years, the impact would have been disastrous,” says Zanetti. Recovery has been painstaking and costly, but Italy has clawed back its position as the top cheese exporter to the United States. With exports reaching 37,000 tons, valued at over €440 million, Italy now commands 20% of U.S. dairy imports.
American appetite for Italian dairy is led by Grana Padano PDO, Parmigiano Reggiano PDO, and Pecorino PDO, which alone account for 80% of Italy’s U.S.-bound cheese exports. Demand remains robust; in the first seven months of 2024, volumes surged 16.7% and values 13%. “We’ve worked hard with U.S. partners to ease tensions and find common ground on issues central to the global dairy sector,” says Zanetti, adding that Assolatte hopes new tariffs and trade barriers will not resurface.
