Trade war protester embarrasses Mike Pompeo with block of cheese

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was embarrassed on Tuesday when his meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte was interrupted by a protester who handed him a block of Parmesan cheese.

“It’s something our families make with their heart every day,” said the woman, before handing it to him.

“And we hope you can help us,” she added, asking him to take the food item to Donald Trump “please.”

She was then taken away by security.

Italian cheesemakers are on track to be among the hardest hit by Trump’s decision to wage a trade war with multiple countries across the world.

“With the US’s punitive taxes, already approved by the World Trade Organization, cheese industry leaders estimate consumption in the US will drop by 80 to 90 percent,” Italian newspaper The Local reported last month.

The outlet noted that industry leaders estimated some 400,000 wheels of Parmesan cheese would end up not being sold on the American market because of the prohibitive tariffs Trump has put in place.

Those wheels typically weigh in around 84 pounds each, The Local added.

What cheese does make it to America is expected to dramatically increase in price.

Philip Marfuggi, president and CEO of the Ambriola Company, which imports cheeses to the United States, said prices for Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, which currently sell for between $15 to $22 per pound could jump to $45 a pound.

Multiple industries around the globe are feeling the pain of Trump’s trade war, particularly among farmers who can’t sell their products on the world market.

Despite spending billions of tax dollars to bail them out, the problems persist and Trump has been incapable of negotiating an end to the unnecessary war he began.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.