Agency director Matteo Zoppas and minister Francesco Lollobrigida tell Macfrut press conference that country faces major challenge
Italy’s fresh produce exporters and machinery suppliers could face a significant loss of export revenue as a result of a new 20 per cent tariff on sales to the US.
“Everyone has been reading the newspapers this morning and trying to analyse what it all means,” said Matteo Zoppas, president of Italian export agency ICE, during a press conference to promote the upcoming trade fair Macfrut in Rimini.
“This is not the result we wanted. We have to wait and see what this means for Italian exports. But this is a major concern for agrifood and for machinery.”
Previous estimates shared by ICE suggest a 20 per cent tariff would lead to a decrease in export revenues to the US in the region of €10bn to €12bn, out of a total of €67bn.
Speaking at the event, Italy’s minister of agriculture Francesco Lollobrigida, said the country remained committed to the US as a market, despite the tariff escalation.
“As we develop new markets elsewhere, we have never thought about closing others out of choice. Do we now want to renounce the US market? No, that’s not an option,” he commented.
“So the EU and our government must focus all of its efforts to avoid a trade war. We don’t want to be pessimistic. In a situation where there are tariffs, there could also be new opportunities.”
