The truckers' protests against the high cost of diesel fuel are spreading like wildfire in Southern Italy. From the A1 Milan-Naples motorway, the demonstrations have reached the commercial port of Naples , with blockades at the entrance to the port and ports in Sicily also closed . Roadblocks are increasing in Calabria , with protests at the gates of Potenza, in Basilicata and in Bari outside the Puglia Region headquarters, with President Antonio Decaro announcing the opening of a discussion with the other Southern Regions, before meeting with the truckers themselves.

And because of the lockdown, supermarket distribution is slowing down. In some provinces of Campania, such as Caserta and Naples, in Calabria, especially Catanzaro, and in some areas of Sicily , the first empty shelves are starting to appear, with fresh produce particularly affected.

THE MEETING – Meanwhile, anticipation is building for the morning meeting at the Milan Prefecture between Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Matteo Salvini, and national trade associations . The minister, who will also meet with local and independent trade associations this afternoon, is trying to calm matters. "Regarding truck drivers, I'm confident we'll be able to unlock funds that have been blocked for too long, listen to their requests, and initiate a positive dialogue that will relieve pressure on state roads and highways," he says. On the other side, Trasportounito is calling for "a 15% increase in road haulage rates" or "a total ban," while Sicilian truckers say they're "ready to lift the ban."

Confcommercio is raising the alarm regarding the impact of the truck blockade on supermarket supplies. "This situation, if it were to continue, could jeopardize the regular availability of products, causing economic damage to businesses and further inconvenience to consumers," warns Pasquale Russo, vice president of Confcommercio and president of Conftrasporto.

According to estimates collected by Confcommercio Sicilia, on the island alone, the holdup of goods during the five days of protests caused a total economic loss of between 40 and 50 million euros for large-scale retail trade and the entire fresh produce supply chain connected to trade. Confcooperative is also making its voice heard, calling for "guaranteeing the passage of perishable products" because, as Confagricoltura points out, " there is a risk of food being wasted," with serious consequences for agricultural businesses . "Thousands of products risk being stuck in companies and lost, while supermarket shelves risk remaining empty," warns Fabrizio Marzano, president of Confagricoltura Campania.

The Consortium for the Protection of the PGI Pachino Tomato, one of the products hardest hit by the ongoing protests, has expressed "deep concern," with tons of tomatoes unharvested because they were unable to deliver them. And in the Gioia Tauro Plain, the initial solidarity with truck drivers is giving way to anger among kiwi producers. "After days of solidarity and understanding with the striking truckers, today the prevailing sentiment is anger. Because, while the protests continue, the kiwifruit won't wait, the harvest cannot stop," said Luigi Scolaro, president of the fruit and vegetable section of Confagricoltura Reggio Calabria.

(Unioneonline/vl)

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