Italian winemakers warn of costly ‘stalemate' in US exports due to tariff fears
US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose tariffs of up to 200 percent on European wine and other alcoholic beverages as part of an escalating trade war with the EU.
The looming threat has left Italian exports at a standstill, with importers in the United States hesitant to invest in wine shipments that may no longer be able to compete on American supermarket shelves after any potential tariffs, Coldiretti said.
"The fear is that cargoes could arrive at their destination when tariffs have already been triggered," it said.
"This has created a stalemate, with importers waiting for signals from the Trump administration before placing orders unless there is a shortage of stock," it added.
Coldiretti estimated that Italy's wine producers may be losing up to €6 million a day due to orders being put on hold.
It also expressed concern over the long-term risk of Italian businesses being forced to leave the American market altogether.
Italian wine exports to the United States have boomed in recent years, reaching €1.9 billion last year, according to the Italian Wine Union (UIV).
Coldiretti warned that 200-percent levies could see this figure slashed by as much as 70 to 80 percent.
Wines from countries not affected by the tariffs would fill in the vacuum left by Italian wine, it said.
Italian wine trade federation Federvini estimated on Tuesday that US tariffs on the European alcohol sector would affect nearly 40,000 Italian businesses and 460,0000 workers.
Coldiretti has also warned that higher prices for wine and other Italian food products – from olive oil to cheese – due to potential tariffs would lead to higher numbers of fake 'Made in Italy' products on US supermarket shelves.
"Rising prices of 'original' items would lead American consumers to turn to other, cheaper goods, starting with so-called 'Italian fakes'," Coldiretti said.
The group said that tariffs imposed on several Italian food products during Trump's first stint as president led to a significant drop in Italian exports of fruit (15 percent), meat and processed fish (28 percent), jam (19 percent) and spirits (20 percent).
Wine exports decreased by six percent, though they were not initially subject to tariffs, it added.
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