The trade war threatens to break out. Administration Use, in fact, is considering imposing 100% punitive duties on some typical Made in the EU products, such as Vespa scooters (Piaggio), Perrier water (Nestlè, which also produces San Pellegrino) and Roquefort cheese. This was reported by the rumors released by the Wall Street Journal, according to which the duties would be a response to the EU ban on US beef from cattle treated with hormones.
An imposition, that of meat treated with hormones, which would find 98% of Italians against it, as emerges from a survey Coldiretti/IprMarketing disclosed on the occasion of the diffusion of the rumors of the Wall Street Journal. The measure, still under study, would be a demonstration of the Trump administration's aggressiveness towards US trading partners. A line that the new US president had already traced during the election campaign, threatening heavy tariffs also against China.
It would not be a first time, given that in the past, from 1999 to 2011, the United States had already imposed additional duties of up to 100% on some European products. The Trump administration's decision would come at the culmination of a series of skirmishes, among which they stand out the threats of tariffs on BMWs produced in Mexico and exported to the USA. Threats to which Angela Merkel, a few days ago, responded by fearing the possibility of a lawsuit against the WTO.
In any case, according to the WTO, the US can only impose punitive tariffs on imports worth about 100 million dollars. In addition, a campaign has already started in the country against the possible application of duties in the sector of small-engined motorcycles from the EU, including the Vespa.
The rumors about the possible duties on the iconic brand of Piaggio however, they are already weighing on the title of the Pontedera group. Even if the group's sales in the United States do not even reach 5% of the company's annual turnover, Piaggio shares lose more than 3% of their value by mid-morning.
And the prime minister also spoke on the matter Paolo Gentiloni: “Quality has no frontiers – said the Prime Minister speaking at the delivery ceremony of the Majestic Princess cruise ship -: duties, protectionism, closures cannot be barriers that put a brake, a wall on quality. Quality is growth and well-being for everyone. There is Italian quality, we must be grateful because it involves hundreds and thousands of small and medium-sized Italian companies”.
