Still rising prices

 

Hello everyone. While Trump's war on Iran reveals who really dictates US foreign policy, severeal car manufacturers, particularly in France and Germany, are shifting production from civilian vehicles to defense and weapons technology. Consequently, consumers continue to experience higher prices for essentials like groceries, insurance and housing.  

The photo below shows that the price of a small sandwhich with prosciutto and white fresh cheese is € 7.90 in Rome 🙁 

And still in Rome a small bowl of salad with tomatoes, fresh white cheese and a few leaves of lettuce costs € 5.90 🤨🍅

A kilo of lemons costs almost € 5 in Italy, which is the second-largest lemon producer in the European Union  🍋🍋🍋

In this context, Trump war in Iran is only making things worse. And EU's refusal to condemn war against Iran shows its subservience to US & Israel neocolonial empire. According to David Miller , Zionist interests have captured and colonized the vital organs of Washington itself. Tel Aviv now dictates the terms of American foreign policy.

Enjoy the rest of this 2nd week of April. 

 

Non-immediate effects of Trump's war

 

While Trump was campaigning for Presidential election in 2024, he said he would not be starting any new wars in the Middle East. On the contrary, there have been massive strikes on Iranian targets for the second time in less than a year. Not to mention of deployment of tens of thousands of US forces in the whole Middle East.

Certainly now, with the loss of some US members of the military, new polling indicates that the majority of US people disapprove of going to war against Iran.

Meanwhile, there are already reverberating economic losses related to Trump's war, as many cruise ship reservations and a lot of booked tourist accomodation have been already cancelled by American tourists. 

That's how Mr. Trump destroys ecomonomic growth in South Europe 🤨

Huge congrats to Spanish policy-makers, who refused to let the US military use their bases for missions linked to strikes on Iran. 

Victory for the US Constitution

On Friday, February 20, 2026, the US Supreme Court ruled that the Washington's yellow haired man violated federal reserve law when he imposed biggest and boldest tariffs customs across the world.

In tariff case, Supreme Court justices didn't say what's going to happen to $ 133 billion already collected in import taxes now declared unlawful. 

From an economic perspective, US' small businesses are facing severe financial strain and closures due to tariffs. Now the Supreme Court decision delivers a major relief to US' importers of wine, spirits, cheese, oilve oil and other agri-food products from the EU.

According to constitutional law experts, US Supreme Court has for the first time confronted Trump's broader challenge to the rule of law.

That's victory for the American constitution.

U.S. tariffs on EU's wine & spirits

 

Glad to hear that pasta, cheese, wine and spirits, as well as olive oil and sunglasses, are among the priority sectors of Italy's goods that the European Union wants Washington to shield from higher tariffs.

Major Irish whishey distillery owners are also hopeful U.S. customs duties will be reduced. 

It seems higher tariffs continue to impact negatively on U.S. sales and jobs, although they generate government revenue.  

The weather has been too cold since the 27th of November ... it's perfect for a glass of red wine 🍷❄🙂

In the meanwhile, on the geopolitical front, the 49-year-old Ukrainian man, Serhii Kuznietsov, arrived in Germany two days ago, after Italy's highest court approved his extradition later last week. That man is suspected of setting off explosions that damaged the EU Nord Stream pipelines in 2022. I clearly know that a very small number of blogging friends don't like such news, as they have been shaped to believe that Ukrainians can never be guilty parties. But we are talking about a German criminal court, not a Belarusian or Russian one. Not to mention that EU, UK and US' newspapers don't highlight this news as it should.

Have a nice weekend 🍁🍷🌰

Kiss statue

A copy of the colossal sculpture known as Kiss statue (kiss of a sailor and a young nurse) will be soon removed from Cvitavecchia's seafornt. The Mayor and the majority of the local administration say there is no connection between the statue and the history of the town. Actually they are right.

The sculptor Johnny Seward was inspired by a photograph taken in 1945 by Alfred Eisenstaedt when Japan surrendered to the US. That's why that artwork has nothing to do with Italian culture. 

Meanwhile prices for good necessary for basic survival and well-being continue to rise slightly, because of the lack of negotiations about Trumps' trade war. 

The main problem for our country is that Italy's wine sales to the United States represent 25% of its wine exports. I hope our Prime Minister, who is visiting the White House right now, will be able to seek more lasting tariff relief. 

The above picture shows fishermen's boats stalled as they will not work during the two days leading up to Easter. 

HAPPY EASTER  ☀

Effects of the trade war

 

Finally a beautiful and sunny spring Sunday! 

With regards to the ongoing trade war, yesterday I have heard that many EU and China politicians and economics experts warned about higher tariffs that will likely add to inflaction. Actually, I know that liquor and wine sold at restaurants, which are located in the United States, is mainly imported from Europe. This means that American restaurants' owners will not have enough margin of profit due to Trump's trade war. I also think many Amercan farmers will face the same problem because of rising price of ferlitizers, which are imported from Canada and Saudi Arabia and Qatar. 

In my humble opinion, retailers have to contact their customers about the impact of new tariffs. Not to mention of the sharp stock markets sell-off triggered by Trump's aggressive tariff rollout.

Happy Sunday everyone 🌼☀🌺

Award from booking.com

 I've just got this one from booking.com

It refers to the hosting business I carried out in 2024. 

https://www.quartastrada.com/

Hosting tourists can be considered "invisible export", due to the fact that it envolves international transactions related to travel agencies, hotels, and services like accomodation, restaurants and entertainment. It's an exchange of services rather than physical goods.

This job allows the opportunity to meet people from all over the world. 

This is the last weekend of March. Have a nice Sunday!

EU-US full blown trade war

Since Trump got in office more than two months ago, he has been talking about restoring U.S.' manufacturing sector by rising tariffs on foreign goods. According to Trump's plan, tariffs can help boost production at home by making foreign goods more expensive. 

Obviously, if businesses were to make goods in the U.S., they wouldn't pay tariff for them. But if companies do as Trump asks, then the U.S.' government can't raise tariff revenue from them. Consequently America's public debt could rise, and American people could pay a high price for Trump's reciprocal tariffs. Not to mention of a country's ability to produce a particular good, such as wine, spirits, and food, at a lower cost compared to other nations. 

On the China front, while these measures may trigger concern over their economic impact, they are unlikey to undermine Beijing's long-term manufacturing dominance.

     Have a nice weekend!

Transatlantic partership or strategic autonomy

 

This morning the European Commission is launching a series of countermeasures to protect EU consumers from the impact of US tariffs of up to 25%. On March 12, the US imposed those tariffs on imports of steel and aluminium from European Union and other trading partners. 

That news reminds me a famous Heinz Alfred Kissinger's quote. As it is known, he was an American diplomat and political scientist, who also served as secretary of state. In 1968 he said: "It may be dangerous to be an America's enemy, but to be America's friend is fatal". 

Have nice Wednesday :-)

Stability into China-US relations

Since the US government took office, more than a month ago, International public opinion has been believing that Washington-Beijing communication has lost momentum. At the moment many signals show the ambivalence in Washington about China-US relation. On the one hand, the US continue to spread the “China threat” rhetoric. On the other hand, the relevant information just proves the importance of stable Washington-Beijing economic and trade relations to the United States.

The US administration knows that the tariff war would not bring tangible benefit to American consumers. Not to mention of the effect  related to the stock market, as it is no coincidence that since late January S&P 500 index has decreased by 3%. According to data, during the previous trade war launched by the US in 2018, most of Washington’s costs from tariffs on China hit American businesses and concumers.

The importance of maintaining stability between Washington and Beijing is related to the fact that trade war and tariff war have no winners. That’s an undeniable fact, as injecting new vitality into China-US relations would contribute to global stability. 

Out of season

This  morning I went shopping at the supermarket, athough I often choose to buy fruit and vegetables from smaller retail shops or local farmers. On the 22nd of February there were red and yellow peppers on the shelves. They seemed made of plastic.

I'm afraid that in the near future consumers in the EU can't indentify which fruits and vegetables are in season when. 

Not to mention of grapes, which I used to eat from late August to early October. It's better to eat such fruit in Summer, as high water content of grapes can aid hydration and contribute to skin health.

Season-specific foods are not only fresher but also denser in terms of nutrition.

Unfortunately, I have just seen green and purple grapes at the supermarket today 🤨 ... as mentioned in my previous post, published on the 1st of February, I had already seen grapes at the supermarket in Winter when I went to Dublin,  Edinburgh and London in the previous years.  

In addition to this, fruit and vegetables' prices are still rising, as inflaction has surged ahead in the first month of the new year. Actually, inflaction in euro area in January 2025 increased by 2.5% compared with the same month in 2024. 

While this month of February is still rainy, mimosa trees are already blooming here on the 42nd parallel.

    

Have a nice weekend ⛅

China's increasing power

(Photo courtesy by Stefano Gazzano)

Since early 2000s China has been increasing its economic power, technological strenght, and national defense capability. Not to mention of Beijing's significant role in global politics. For example, in 2024 China showed its considerable role of being a reliable peacemaker between Saudi Arabia and Iran. 

(Photo courtesy by Stefano Gazzano)

Furthermore, China and India have recently agreed to carry out active interaction at all levels on bilateral and multilateral opportunities, powerfully built strategic communication, and enhance mutual political trust. I am so glad to hear such a great news, as in terms of international politics it means that unipolarism will not exist anymore. It's easy to see that the only country that owns military basis in more than 80 states around the world will be compelled to share its power.

(Photo courtesy by Stefano Gazzano)

The fact that Beijing is now hit by Trump tariffs on steel and aluminium leeds me to think that the US is challenging China using many tactics, including economic restrictions and military encirclement.

Sovereignity and dignity of all countries do not have to be subordinated to the hegemonic countries' investment management companies.

Chinese AI start-up DeepSeek

There are clouds of uncertainty over financial markets this week, as new China-based AI start-up, DeepSeek, has been showing its rapid innovation. It seems that DeepSeek can operate at a lower cost than American AI models.

On monday stocks of high-powered chip manufacturers, Nvidia and other American technology giants,  decreased due the fact that debates have been fueling over the economic and geopolitical competition between US and China in developing AI technology.

This means, in my humble opinion, that we are not yet in a unipolar world completely ruled by the 0.05% richer people.

Olive trees need cold weather

 

During last week  I have noticed that the temperature was as cold as it should be. This is very good for olive trees, which need at least three months per year of cold weather to improve flower and fruit production.  

Olive trees can tolerate a wide range of temperatures. They will survive with no ill effects in temperatures as low as -15° Celsius.

As it is known, there is a great talk about climate change, and farmers involved in olive and olive oil export are afraid that a less cold winter may affect the production.  

Italy is capable of supplying a significant part of olive oil global demand, as olive trees are grown across the whole Italian peninsula.

The main destinations of Italy export on olive oil are South Korea, United States and Germany. With 36% of world export, Spain is the main exporter of olive oil worldwide.                                                                                                                                                                                         

Meanwhile, Autumn still continues to show its marvelous colours.

                      

I took the above pictures in Central Italy, 40 km North of Rome.

How food has gone up

I have been out of blogging since late September. Naples (South Italy) and its West surroundings are experiencing an earthquake almost every 48 hours. There are 24 craters located to the West of Naples, most of them are under the sea water and on the Island of Ischia. I am worried because the risk of eruption may increase, and my mother and my two sisters live there in Naples.

As request by Nicole (through her post published on September 18th), I have taken some pictures that show how food's price has increased in Italy.

 

As it is known, since early 2022 purchasig power has been decreasing sharply also in EU contries too. 

The above picture shows walnuts € 5.99 per kilo (shipped from Chile 🤨) and chestnuts € 7.99 per kilo ❗

I hope my pictures can explain how much have fruit and veggies' prices gone up: people are buying the green lemons above € 5.99 per kilo.

Not to mention of rising prices of oil, gas and building materials used in construction, such as bricks, concrete, cupper, tiles and wood.

This morning I saw two sailing ships in the harbour ... if oil and gas prices were to rise again and again, we would see more vessels propelled by the wind 😃 LOL

It seems the seagull is waiting for lunch, considering that the grocery store and the fishmonger are there.

Have a nice weekend!