We need to act diplomatically and on multiple fronts with great knowledge of economic sciences, dialogue and communication, which make the USA reflect on the medium and long-term effects: while it is true that in the medium term they could facilitate the US industry, it is also true that this will only happen if there are entrepreneurs and skills able to seize the opportunity and consumers willing to give up European products. If instead the EU - as it seems - wants to respond with other duties, a series of chain reactions will be triggered which will be paid for by both European and American consumers». This is how Sandro Bottega, owner of the Venetian wine company of the same name, a leader in the production of Prosecco and spirits , comments on the EU Commission's decision to let the suspension of the measures applied in 2018 and 2020 against the United States expire on 1 April on a series of US products, including American whiskies, and to evaluate a second package of new countermeasures that could enter into force by mid-April, after consulting the Member States and interested parties, affecting various agri-food products, including wines and various categories of alcoholic beverages such as liqueurs, cordials and similar products.
"If the work of diplomacy, which has already begun, does not lead to positive results - adds Sandro Bottega - then it will be necessary to act with actions that do not affect the pockets of Europeans: reduce the purchase of American securities to preserve resources in the EU to face the probable economic crisis, fair taxation of profits obtained from services of foreign companies made on EU soil, find alternative suppliers for the main products imported from the USA (gas and oil), respect for EU appellations and regulations for American products, starting lawsuits that stop the existence of the various parmesan etc. and all the Italian sounding products that go from the USA all over the world, preventing the entry into the EU of products that contain ingredients that do not comply with European regulations, documentation closer to European standards that makes it difficult for their products to arrive in the EU; a separate discussion should be made for electric cars for which consumers have already thought about making choices that do not favor American cars. But surely in all of this the saying will be true that war also wins the winners and therefore it will not be the solution to the ills of the trade balance of any country". Bottega then concludes: "Let's hope that the work of diplomacy will bring results, because otherwise the dynamics of rising duties will damage the entire world economy and not just the countries directly involved. And anyway what should we do: raise duties on American whiskey to 500% and fuel an endless spiral?"
