Italy’s agriculture minister has expressed cautious optimism about avoiding potential US tariffs on European wine. Francesco Lollobrigida downplayed fears over the proposed 200 per cent tariff, stating that while it poses a challenge for Italian wine exports, he remains hopeful that diplomacy will resolve the issue. Lollobrigida emphasised the importance of maintaining strong trade relations with the US, calling it an “indispensable” market for Italy.
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The US tariff threat is part of ongoing trade tensions with Europe, in response to planned European Union tariffs on American products like whiskey. These EU measures, in turn, follow the recent implementation of Trump’s 25 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. The Italian wine industry, which exported over €8 billion worth of wine in 2024, could face significant disruption, as nearly a quarter of those exports go to the US. Despite the concerns, no final decision has been made, leaving Italian winemakers in a state of uncertainty.
Adding to the pressure, Italian trade group Federvini reported a slowdown in wine exports to the US due to uncertainty over the looming tariffs. The potential impact on Italy’s wine industry remains unclear, but Matteo Zoppas, head of the country’s trade agency ICE, stated that it is too early to determine the full extent of the damage. Lollobrigida and Zoppas made their comments at a conference promoting this year’s Vinitaly wine fair, which will bring together 4,000 wine companies and 3,000 buyers from 140 countries.
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The Vinitaly event, one of the world’s largest wine fairs, will be held in Verona from 6-9 April. Despite the trade tensions, the US delegation has confirmed its attendance, providing a potential avenue for further discussions and negotiations.
