French champagne and Italian Parmigiano cheese are among the European treats under threat should US President Donald Trump impose tariffs on EU imports as producers warn US consumers would struggle to afford them.
With US household budgets strained by soaring egg costs and fresh tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada and China, European food and winemakers warn American consumers will snub their pricey delicacies in favour of cheaper domestic-made imitations.
While the US depends on Mexico for fresh produce such as avocados and strawberries and on Canada for staples such as wheat and beef, Europe provides its most refined imports. These include cheese and wine that a Rabobank report last month warned would be the two sectors hardest hit by 25 per cent tariffs.