American Italian Food Coalition Submits Comments to USTR Urging Exemption for Consumer Food Products from Potential Tariffs

Disrupting well-established supply chains would harm businesses and likely raise American consumer prices without addressing core concerns of the U.S.-EU trading relationship.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Co-chairs of the American Italian Food Coalition, former Member of Congress Susan Molinari and Lucy Calautti submitted an official comment to U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer as part of the Section 301 investigation which could result in new or additional tariffs on imported Italian food products.

In their comment, Molinari and Calautti emphasized the importance of the strong American-Italian trading relationship and open, predictable trade rules between the United States and Europe. Additionally, the AIFC urged consumer food products generally, and unique Italian food products specifically, to be exempted from any measures taken as a result of this investigation.

Molinari and Calautti wrote in part, “Tariffs on these products would threaten American jobs including U.S. importers, distributors, transportation companies, and American retailers – while doing little to address the core concerns of the U.S.-EU trading relationship. This exemption is also critical to safeguard American consumers’ continued access to these products at the highest quality and most affordable prices. Disrupting these well-established supply chains would not only harm businesses, but also likely raise prices and restrict American consumers’ access to Italian foods we know and love.”

Click here to read a PDF copy of AIFC’s submitted comment.

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