Grana Padano and US Tariffs: Concerns for the Food Service Market. The General Director of the Consortium, Stefano Berni, has recently raised alarms regarding the tariffs imposed by the United States, highlighting that the narrative suggesting that “premium” products like Grana Padano would not face significant impacts is misleading. With a substantial share of sales in the food service sector, the cheese is particularly vulnerable to potential price increases. Berni recalled the Russian embargo of 2014, which resulted in damages of nearly 100 million euros due to over 40,000 wheels being blocked. Currently, it is estimated that US tariffs could lead to the loss of 35,000 to 40,000 wheels and a direct estimated damage of around 25 million euros, with further induced losses potentially reaching 75 million if the product’s value were to decline by 3%.
In response to this critical situation, Berni emphasized the active commitment of the Grana Padano system in seeking new international markets, with projections indicating that by 2024, 51.2% of production will be destined for export. However, the challenges posed by US tariffs continue to weigh significantly on the commercial future of Grana Padano in the global market.
