A 14 page long list containing hundreds of European products that could be subject to duties from next summer for a total value of 11 billion dollars. While busy "making peace" with China, Donald Trump decides to quarrel again with the European Union after the truce established in July last year.
What has triggered the president's anger is a question that has been going on for more than ten years relating to the aid that the European Union has allegedly granted to Airbus, number one rival of the US company Boeing, currently in the eye of the storm due to the tragedy happened last month in Ethiopia. The WTO has also expressed itself on the matter several times, without however being able to resolve the situation.
"This case has been under discussion for 14 years and now the time has come for action” – declares in a note the number one of the US foreign trade agency, Robert Lighthizer – “the administration is preparing to respond immediately as soon as the WTO arbitration publishes its evaluations on the value of the US countermeasures”.
Trump has therefore decided to take matters into his own hands and threatens to impose duties on a very wide range of products. The list includes helicopters for civil use from Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany or France, but also many products from the food sector.
And it is above all the latter a frighten Italy. The long list drawn up by the US trade agency includes fish, butter, yoghurt, olive oil, jams, liqueurs and essential oils produced in any of the 28 member countries of the European Union.
A long list of cheeses is also at risk of duties, including Pecorino, Emmental, Roquefort, Cheddar. Also targeted are wines, sparkling and non-sparkling, including prosecco.
The inclusion of prosecco could represent enormous damage for Italy, given that the USA represents the main outlet for Made in Italy wine with a value of 1,5 billion, (+ 4% in 2018).
Italy, Coldiretti explained, is the leading supplier of wine and sparkling wine with over a third of the overall market in value ahead of France (28%). The total value of Italian agri-food exports to the USA is equal to 4,2 billion and represents about 10% of total national exports. "The USA - underlined the president of Coldiretti Ettore Prandini - ranks third among the main Italian food buyers after Germany and France, but before Great Britain".
Here is the complete list of EU products at risk of duties.
