The U.S., Italy’s third-largest export market for cured meats, faces a potential sharp decline in imports following new tariffs announced by the Trump administration. In 2024, shipments of Italian cured meats to the U.S. rose 19.9 percent to 20,188 tonnes, with export value climbing 20.4 percent year on year to €265mn. However, a newly proposed 20 percent tariff risks halting that growth.
“This is a serious concern for our companies,” said Lorenzo Beretta, president of Assica, Italy’s meat and cured meat industry association. “Higher consumer prices in the U.S. will inevitably have a negative effect.”
Beretta noted that, unlike the 2019 tariffs that targeted only specific categories such as salami, mortadella, and cooked products, the latest measures apply to the full range of exports. “This is especially damaging for raw hams, our most exported product,” he added.
The tariffs come as Italy’s cured meat sector contends with broader headwinds, including trade restrictions linked to the spread of African swine fever. Outbreaks have led to market closures in Japan, China, and elsewhere, compounding pressure on producers.
“The U.S. has been one of our fastest-growing and most strategic non-EU markets,” Beretta said. “These measures could roll back progress to 2022 levels. It’s another blow to an industry already navigating health and trade disruptions.”
Assica is calling for urgent talks with Italian and EU authorities to identify support mechanisms and safeguard the global competitiveness of Italy’s agri-food exports.
L’articolo U.S. Tariffs Threaten Italy’s Cold Cuts Exports to the U.S. proviene da Italianfood.net.