Still tensions between Italy and the US on duties. The exporters of Parmigiano Reggiano and Grana Padano denounced that the ports of two American states, New York and New Jersey have applied a double customs tariff on two of the most famous Italian cheeses abroad. It would be an incorrect interpretation of the close agreements between the EU and the United States on the duties.
The error would derive from the very complicated procedure, with which the USA taxes specifically incoming the cheeses of hard cow’s milk, just like Parmesan and the parmesan. The customs would have applied two rates to the same product which, in reality, are alternatives.
Double duties on Parmigiano and Grana
On the morning of August 28, the presidents of the Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano consortia reported that some American port authorities were applying much higher duties to their products than those expected. About 200,000 forms of hard -paste vaccine cheese would risk being improperly taxed.
The customs of the ports of the States of New York and New Jersey, in the northern part of the eastern coast of the USA, applied rates that in some cases reached 30% of the value of the imported goods. Nicola Bertinelli, president of the Parmigiano Reggiano Consortium, pointed out:
An additional duty was erroneously applied by 15%, essentially doubling the duty, without respecting the agreement of 15% all-inclusive.
What does the agreement includes between the EU and the USA
Historically, Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano have an incoming duty in the United States of 15%. This is the case since the 1960s, when the two products began to gain fame also abroad. This percentage applies to the achievement of a certain amount of imported cheese (called altitude). After this fee, the duty becomes 2.20 euros per kilo. In April 2025, however, Trump introduced a duty of 10% further on all goods imported from abroad, which led the customs rates on the two cheeses to rise to 25%.
After the agreements signed in the last few weeks by the EU and use on the duties, the imports of Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano have returned to be taxed by 15% until the share is reached. For the quantities out of altitude, two options opened:
- the payment of a further duty of 15%;
- the payment of the traditional duty of 2.20 euros per kilo.
The two rates are precisely optional, and it should be systematically chosen the one that benefits the American state most and which, consequently, is less convenient for the company that matters the cheese.
What happened to the customs
According to what the consortia of the producers of Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano claim, the customs of New York and New Jersey would have applied, on the out of altitude goods, both a 15%increase, and a fixed duty of 2.20 euros per kilo, effectively doubling the taxation.
The foreign minister Antonio Tajani also intervened on the question, who immediately asked the USA the correct application of the cessation reached with the EU.
