cheese

There is a risk that the cheese war will explode on the Beijing-Brussels axis. And the consequences of throwing another war over obligations could be paid ​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​fronts worth paying for by exporting many products to China that represent the excellence of Made in Italy: from parmesan to pecorino romano, from fontina to buffalo mozzarella, passing through gorgonzola, exports to China of the ‘milk and derivatives’ sector are growing strongly from a value that in 2023 was just over 80 million.

The Asian giant confirmed that an investigation has been launched into the subsidies that are responsible for the import of dairy products from the European Union, saying that it was the Dragon business that requested intervention. Beijing’s offensive, in particular, aims to find out if the subsidies given by 20 European states (including Italy) comply with the rules of the World Trade Organization. In Brussels they have no doubts: it is a real revenge for the duties on Chinese electric cars: “We will do everything to protect the European agricultural sector”, the warning that comes from the Commission EU, where they ensure that these subsidies. in Europe in full compliance with international and WTO rules.

In Beijing, however, they don’t think so, and a big hit in the export of cheese and dairy products to China is happening not only throughout our country, but also especially over on Austria, Belgium and Ireland. The industry minister, Adolfo Urso, tries to avoid tension: “Regarding the commercial retaliation measures announced by China on European cheeses, in response to the measures of the European Commission – he said from the meeting in Rimini – I believe that there is still time, in the coming weeks, to work together on a negotiated solution aimed at sharing these measures to restore fair competition conditions where cases of violation according to WTO rules were determined”. “Because the market must be free but fair – said the minister – and fairness is based on equal conditions”.

At the same time, not only Coldiretti raises the alarm, but also the Coalition for the Protection of Grana Padano, that buffalo mozzarella DOP and Roman pecorino. “The trade war on electric cars between the EU and China – warns Coldiretti – threatens the growth of exports of cheeses in Italy to China, which recorded in the first five months of 2024 an increase of 35% compared to the same period. Last year.” The association complains that “Italian food is becoming a bargaining chip in the political and economic disputes that have broken out in other regions and which, as happened in the past gone, at risk of affecting the export of Italian agricultural food to the Asian country which is worth 590 million euros”.

“If China imposes duties on cheeses coming from the European Union, we will definitely be punished,” says Stefano Berni, general director of the Coalition for the Protection of Grana Padano: “Despite the fact that we have not reached levels in – trade of our product in large quantities – he said – However, China is a market that is growing a lot. ” The head of the Coalition for the Protection of Campania DOP buffalo mozzarella, Pier Maria Saccani, speaks of “bad branding” and of “instrumental use of excellent cheeses in disputes that do not concern the region”, also affirming how China is “a market with great potential.” “As usual, the producers always pay”, complains the president of the Consortium for the protection of Pecorino Romano Dop, Gianni Maoddi, who remembers that the region is still paying for the Russian embargo: “Everyone is taking it out on Europe, however -trade suffers the consequences.”

In 2023, imports of dairy products from the European Union into China would be worth 1 billion and 700 million euros, equivalent to 36 percent of the total. Only New Zealand has a larger share. Italy, with more than 4,000 tons, is in sixth place among the countries that export dairy products to China, with a share of 3.3% of the total cheese imported from the Dragon. In the first 4 months of 2024, in particular, Italian milk exports to China reached 30.5 million euros, with +20.5%, and Italian agricultural food exports reached 194 million with +26.0%.