The influence of US duties on the Ligurian agri-food sector

Cristina Santagata was interviewed by the Secolo XIX in relation to US duties. The article emphasises the need to better understand and confront the entire agri-food sector. As indicated in the article, the agri-food sector, a true symbol of Made in Italy abroad, will be hard hit by the duties imposed by the United States, and it is precisely with the intention of clarifying these points of question that Santagata 1907, together with other companies in the sector, both Italian and Ligurian, will participate from 29th June to 1st July at the Fancy Food Show in New York.

“We will be there. It will be an important moment to discuss and better understand the effect of these measures’. Cristina Santagata

Santagata 1907, with only 20 employees, had a turnover of more than 185 million in 2024. From the Bolzaneto plant in Genoa, truckloads of extra virgin olive oil leave for the markets of Italy and the world. In this regard, American duties will have, and are already having, another consequence, that of pushing companies to seek unexplored commercial outlets. An example? Vietnam.

“We buy lots of oil from the Mediterranean basin, Portugal, Greece, Spain, Italy, and also outside the EU, Tunisia. We select and create blends. The oil supply chain is subject to very strict obligations, everything has to be traced. In the US we export hundreds of tonnes of product per year and invoice several million euros. Exports, to the US and elsewhere, represent 30 per cent for us’. Cristina Santagata

With the desire not to lose the American market, Ligurian agri-food producers are not resigned, and oil producers hope that quality products will be less affected by duties.