Italian farmers protest against Chinese imports
Afp, Rome
About 1,000 Italian farmers gathered in Rome on Thursday to protest against a growing influx of Chinese food imports such as tomato paste that are competing heavily with local produce. "We demand a policy of protection for food products made in Italy," said Massimo Gargano, who is on the national advisory board of the industry's main professional organisation, Coldiretti. Imports of tomato paste from China surged 150 percent in the first quarter of 2007, and now represent 30 percent of the Italian market for the product, according to Coldiretti. The farmers rallied outside the Chamber of Deputies, the Senate and the agriculture ministry the day after demonstrating in the northern city of Bologna, considered the farming capital of Italy.
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