SFA President Phil Kafarakis voiced his opposition to the supplemental list of European foods that are being considered for a 100 percent tarrif as part of the Airbus/Boeing dispute, earlier this week at the U.S. Trade Representative Office in Washington D.C. These additional products include specialty staples including Reggiano, Romano, Pecorino, Gouda, pork products, coffee, and pasta. A full list can be found here. The original list released in April also included many specialty foods such as butter, yogurt, olives, and olive oil.
Kafarakis noted that, “The proposed increased duties on specialty food products will have an adverse effect on U.S. small food businesses, decreasing sales and adversely affecting employment. There are few to no domestic products that can replace these imported specialty foods. These businesses should not be sacrificed in a dispute about (and between) competing global transport companies. Putting small food companies and the specialty foods they manufacture and retail at risk is not ‘appropriate and feasible.’
To read the rest of the story, please go to: Specialty Food News
