Tsunami of duties on agri-food: "Billions in losses and thousands of jobs at risk". Sardinia among the most affected regions
Farmers' alarm: "There is a risk of very heavy repercussions". The island's businesses are vulnerable due to lack of diversification. Coldiretti: "Seek dialogue"
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Possible, very severe repercussions for the Italian agri-food sector following the introduction of 20% duties by the US administration led by Donald Trump .
According to Svimez estimates, the overall impact could lead to a loss of up to 0.2% of the national GDP, putting at risk over 50,000 jobs and causing a reduction in exports between 13.5% and 16.4% in the key sectors not only of agri-food, but also in chemicals and pharmaceuticals.
In this gloomy scenario, Sardinia – analysts say – will be one of the most affected regions. This is because – together with Molise and Sicily – it is one of the Italian territories where companies are most vulnerable due to poor diversification. Obviously, there will also be repercussions for the leading export regions such as Lombardy, Emilia-Romagna and Tuscany.
UCI – «The introduction of US duties of 20% on Italian products – comments the president of the Unione Coltivatori Italiani, Mario Serpillo – is a deeply unjust and seriously damaging measure, which will directly and disproportionately affect our agri-food sector. The economic repercussions will be very serious: a potential impact of between 4 and 7 billion euros is estimated for the Italian economy, with knock-on effects on employment, investments and competitiveness . It is necessary – adds Serpillo – that Europe takes immediate action on a diplomatic level – concludes the president of the UCI, Mario Serpillo – and that the Italian government implements urgent measures to support the affected companies. Defending Made in Italy and agri-food is not just a commercial issue: it is an act due to the thousands of producers who bring our agricultural identity to the world».
COLDIRETTI – «It is essential to prevent the trade tension between Europe and the United States from turning into a conflict with disastrous effects , with direct repercussions on citizens and farmers on both sides. An escalation of duties would put entire production sectors at risk, affecting not only companies but also consumers». This is what Battista Cualbu, president of Coldiretti Sardegna , says. He adds: «Added to this is the growing threat of Italian sounding, a phenomenon that already today takes billions of euros away from the Italian economy and that also closely affects Sardinia, whose excellences - think of pecorino - are under attack».
"Beyond American decisions - continues Cualbu - Italy and united Europe must continue the dialogue, because the logic of duties and commercial retaliation has proven to be short-sighted and harmful to everyone over time. We need a diplomatic solution to be pursued at a European level, because only with a strong and united position can we truly defend our businesses" . And again: "In Trump's first term, pecorino romano was spared from the duties of the first wave and we hope that this time too there will be a positive outcome, not only for this symbolic product of Sardinia, but also for wine and oil, pillars of Sardinian exports to the USA. We are certain that American consumers, now fond of Italian and Sardinian products, will continue to choose them, but it is clear that a system based on duties would end up hitting especially the less well-off segments of the population , who would see their possibilities of access to quality products reduced".
(Unioneonline/lf)
