"Tariffs are scary, but creating panic risks being even more dangerous . We must remain clear-headed and not be overwhelmed by alarmism that could worsen the economic consequences for the island's agri-food sector."
This is Coldiretti Sardegna 's comment on US President Donald Trump's announcement of 30% tariffs on European Union countries, starting in August.
According to Coldiretti Sardegna, "a careful analysis is needed, tightening the supply chain to develop unified and shared solutions." This is also because Sardinia has "tools at its disposal, such as the Revolving Pledge to store goods or the call for tenders for the needy, but united decisions are needed to put them back into play, with each individual doing their part."
"Today, we need unity and to avoid emotional reactions," emphasize Battista Cualbu, president and director of Coldiretti Sardinia, and Luca Saba . " The Region urgently needs to convene a technical panel that brings together the Pecorino Romano supply chain, the banking community, and trade associations . We need unity in strategies and decisions to address this challenge, preventing concerns from turning into a dangerous race to the bottom. The tools are available, but they must be prepared and shared by everyone, so that everyone can play their part according to their own skills."
According to Coldiretti Sardegna, "the impact of a 30% tariff, combined with the current euro/dollar exchange rate, risks resulting in a price increase of over 40%, " Saba and Cualbu explain, "a mechanism that could lead some operators, in an effort to maintain market share, to sacrifice product prices, with serious consequences for the entire production chain, starting with the shepherds."
This is why "we must prevent the triggering of a harmful psychological mechanism, where the fear of losing sales pushes people to lower prices at source ," warn Coldiretti Sardegna leaders. "This would be detrimental to the entire regional economy, but also to the American one: Pecorino Romano currently has no immediate substitutes in the US, and its supply chain is also well-established on the import-export side of the United States."
Cgia: «Sardegna regione più penalizzata dai dazi Usa»
Confagricoltura Sardegna is also calling for the establishment of a discussion forum as soon as possible. "We ask," the association writes in a statement, "the Sardinia Region to pay the utmost attention to the entire agri-food sector in light of the devastating tariffs coming from the US, which will impact our island's agricultural production system starting August 1st."
"The Region," says Stefano Taras , president of Confagricoltura Sardegna, "must intervene quickly with the appropriate countermeasures to support businesses , starting with the management of resources from the upcoming budget adjustment, taking into account possible measures regarding access to credit or financial management, such as the revolving pledge, and involving trade associations in operational decisions. All companies, with their diverse product range, have the same dignity and the same right to continue generating economies across the island's diverse regions. With the upcoming tariffs," Taras concludes, "the future of Made in Sardinia is indeed at risk."
(Unioneonline/lf)