This is not a new aging technique, but rather the fate of some Italian cheeses headed for the United States market. Since August 11, some US customs offices, mainly in New York, have begun levying a double tax on imports, violating trade accords between the EU and the US. Under current rules, exports of cheese from Italy to the U.S. should be subject to two options: a reduced 15% tax on the value of the commodities within agreed-upon quotas, or a fixed tariff of $2.146 per kilo for amounts beyond that barrier. The August agreement states that the greater of the two duties will apply, but some customs offices are imposing both simultaneously. Faced with this ambiguity, numerous American importers have chosen to store their products in bonded warehouses, or international customs warehouses, seeking confirmation. “In this way", explains Attilio Zanetti, president of Zanetti Spa, one of the main exporters of Grana Padano and Parmigiano Reggiano, “clearance and thus the nationalization of the goods are postponed, hoping the situation will be clarified". Assolatte, the group that represents the Italian dairy industry (with a total revenue of €26.6 billion), has received many reports and urged action from the appropriate authorities. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has already formed a task group with the Italian Embassy in Washington, and consortia and trade associations have submitted the relevant papers to EU and American authorities, requesting the United States Trade Representative’s Office to intervene. In the meantime, manufacturers face uncertainty. "Not knowing how much our American partners will have to pay is putting us in great difficulty", Zanetti says. "It's a situation that is affecting us and we hope it will be resolved as soon as possible".