ROME, Italy: Italy's agricultural sector is bracing for a major hit as U.S. tariffs threaten exports of iconic products like Prosecco and Parma ham, a leading farmers' lobby warned this week.

President Donald Trump has pledged to impose tariffs on European Union food products, targeting countries with trade surpluses with the U.S. New duties of 25 percent on Mexican and Canadian imports and 20 percent on Chinese goods took effect on March 4.

"Billions of dollars of damage are foreseen for Italian food, hurting not only our country but also the wallets of Americans who buy our excellence and recognize its quality and uniqueness," said Cristiano Fini, president of the Italian farmers' lobby CIA, which represents 650,000 members and 170,000 companies.

"Trump's farmers will never be able to produce Grana Padano (cheese), Parma ham, Pecorino Romano (cheese), Prosecco, Brunello and all the Made in Italy products," he added.

In 2024, Italy's food exports to the U.S. reached approximately 7.8 billion euros ($8.22 billion). The country reported an overall trade surplus with the U.S. of 39 billion euros, making America its top non-EU trading partner and second only to Germany overall.

Fini urged EU member states to take "diplomatic action and a major countermove to counter the disruptive effect of U.S. duties on all EU products."

Last week, Italian business lobby Confindustria condemned Trump's tariff policy, calling it an attack on EU industry and its workforce while pushing for a strong European response.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who has established good relations with Trump, acknowledged that his tariff threats go against Italy's national interest. However, she has cautioned against escalating tensions into a full-scale EU-U.S. trade conflict.