Why is Italy at risk in the new trade war? More than €800 million is at stake.
With the entry into force today of Donald Trump's new tariff regime, the era of free trade comes to a close and an uncertain era begins for the global economy. Energy, exports, technology: here's how Italy is being targeted by the new American policy, amid fragile energy promises and billions at risk.
Today, the world, Europe, and, to a lesser extent, Italy , can say they have lost a strategic game. The implementation of Donald Trump 's new tariff system opens a dark chapter for all economies that had turned globalization into an engine of growth. Protectionism, forcefully returning to the scene, is transforming into a silent earthquake that threatens not only trade balances, but also political , energy , and industrial ones.
While European governments attempt to mask the difficulties with diplomatic formulas, the new framework imposed by the United States leaves no room for interpretation: from today, the game is played by new rules. And Trump, like it or not, holds the upper hand.
Much has been said about tariffs: from the current 15% to 35% in the event of non-compliance by European partners. But the real issue lies elsewhere. In that fragile balance achieved with the (unilaterally European) promise to purchase $ 750 billion in American energy over three years. An agreement ratified neither by the European Parliament nor by governments, but signed with the backing of a few major industrial players.
The result? We're moving from dependence on Moscow to dependence on Washington . But at a very high price, as we've already discussed: hundreds of billions invested in fossil fuels , oil , and liquefied natural gas ( LNG ), which seriously jeopardize Europe's climate goals and slow down the RePowerEU plan. A resounding step backwards from the ecological transition that was touted just a few months ago.
The consequences for Italy will be immediate. The most exposed sector is the technology sector, one of the flagships of Italian exports. According to ANIE Rinnovabili , the new tariffs could cost Italy over 800 million euros , directly impacting the most dynamic and internationalized companies.
The United States is currently the second largest export market for the Italian tech industry (after Germany). In 2024 alone, exports exceeded €4 billion , with growth of 11.5% in value and 18% in volume. This trend is confirmed in the first five months of 2025 : +13.5% in value and +23.3% in volume. However, analysts warn that many orders may have been brought forward to avoid customs increases.
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