Italy is now the country second-hardest hit by COVID-19, right behind China. For now, it is on lockdown and even travel within the country is discouraged. That led us to inquire with the Italy-America Chamber of Commerce of Texas (IACC Texas) whether there would soon be a shortage of imported Italian ingredients, such as real Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, pastas, cured meats like prosciutto, amari (Italian liqueurs) and prized wines such as Barolo, Barbera, Sangiovese and Amarone della Valpolicella.

(Thankfully, so far Italian wine has not been subjected to the same 25-percent tariffs applied to certain German, French and Spanish wines, nor has a previously threatened 100-percent imported wine tariff been implemented yet.)