"People talk a lot about Trump's threat but don't think about the fact that there are still many countries with protectionist policies that prevent Italian tomato exports from growing." Pariotti is referring to the Middle and Far East and Argentina, a market with strict production shares (foreign produce can only be imported if quantities of a similar value are exported) where local tomato producers asked the government for subsidies to protect their productions.
Diego Pariotti, Director of Foreign Trade at Conserve Italia
Then there's Australia, where companies like Conserve Italia find it difficult to export as duties have a heavy impact on final prices, meaning Italian players find it difficult to be competitive and gain consumers.
Nonetheless, Conserve Italia is not neglecting any of the emerging markets and has business relations with over 60 countries worldwide. "Europe remains our main destination (England, Germany, France and Scandinavia in particular), but it has become clear that we can grow only by increasing the shares shipped to Canada, Japan or Latin America and by exploring the area south of China, where there is huge potential. Without mentioning China, which represents a great opportunity and where we are investing on educational activities to teach people how to use our products in partnership with organisations such as Federazione Italiana Cuochi".