ROME - The recent import duties imposed by the Trump administration were affecting Parmigiano Reggiano, one of the best known and most popular Italian products abroad.

 The tariff’s were set to ‘aid local producers’ in America but that would suppose that quality Parmigiano Reggiano was in competition with it’s less delicious counter-part, parmesan.

 Nicola Bertinelli, President of the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium, commented on the decision of the White House in a statement. "We are not in competition with local cheeses at all: they are different products that have different standards of production, quality and different costs: it is therefore absurd to hit a niche product such as Parmigiano Reggiano to protect the American economy.”

 He continued "the duties on our product range from 15% to 35%. Certainly, this news is not making us happy, but Parmigiano Reggiano is a premium product and the increase in the price would not automatically lead to a reduction in consumption. We are trying to negotiate something that would make it clear why [Parmigiano] it would not make sense to apply duties to a product like ours that is not in real competition with American cheeses. 

 We’ve rolled up our sleeves to support the demand in largest singular foreign market, which as of now represents 22.5 percent of our total market.”

 Bertinelli, finished by noting that "imposing duties on a product like ours increases only the price for American consumers, without really protecting local producers. It is a choice that damages everyone. Today, the real enemy of milk producers are not their foreign counterparts, but the products that are called 'milk' or 'cheese' while having no bond with land and animals, such as cell fermentation foods.”

 Thus, Bertinelli made clear that there could be no competition between Parmigiano and a small, cellophane-wrapped, cheese-inspired slice.

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