The Pecorino Romano PDO Consortium has called for the complete removal of the 10% US tariff currently applied to the Italian sheep’s milk cheese, arguing that the measure risks undermining the competitiveness of a product that has built a long-standing commercial presence in the United States.
The request was put directly to US Ambassador to Italy Tilman J. Fertitta by Gianni Maoddi, President of the Pecorino Romano PDO Protection Consortium, during a private meeting aboard the Boardwalk yacht, moored in Porto Cervo, Sardinia. Maoddi’s was the only Consortium to secure a private meeting with the ambassador. The discussion was also attended by Marta Costanzo Youth, deputy chief of mission at the US Embassy in Italy.
The United States is one of the most important markets for the Pecorino Romano supply chain, with exports worth approximately $180 million. The market has been built over more than a century of trade, and the cheese has become an established product, with strong recognition among American consumers.
During the meeting, Maoddi outlined the potential impact of the current tariff regime on the competitiveness of Pecorino Romano PDO and on the wider supply chain. He stressed that the product generates value on both sides of the Atlantic, involving not only Italian and Sardinian producers but also US importers, distributors, food processors, restaurants, and consumers.
The Consortium is therefore seeking a specific exemption for Pecorino Romano PDO, effectively bringing the tariff down to zero. According to the organization, such a measure would protect Italian production while also safeguarding the economic interests of the US businesses involved in importing, processing, distributing, and selling the cheese.
“It was a valuable opportunity to once again bring our concerns directly to a highly influential interlocutor,” Maoddi said. “We explained to the ambassador how important it is to act promptly on the tariff issue and why we believe that removing the tariff altogether is the most effective solution to preserve Pecorino Romano’s competitiveness and protect a supply chain that creates value on both sides of the Atlantic.”
Maoddi said Fertitta had shown “great attention and willingness” to engage with the Consortium’s concerns. More importantly, the ambassador committed to acting as a direct bridge to President Trump and bringing the issue to his attention.
“The ambassador demonstrated great attention and willingness to engage,” Maoddi added. “His commitment to act as a direct bridge with President Trump is a particularly important step for us. We will now send him all the necessary documentation, including the economic, production, and commercial evidence supporting our request.”
The Consortium has prepared a dedicated dossier on the tariff situation and the reasons underpinning its request for a specific exemption for Pecorino Romano PDO. The documentation has been submitted to the US Embassy, together with an offer to provide further technical, economic and commercial information. The organization has also indicated its willingness, if necessary, to arrange a dedicated meeting in either the United States or Italy involving representatives of the supply chain and US companies engaged in importing, processing, and distributing Pecorino Romano PDO.