One year after the introduction of the so-called “Liberation Day” tariffs, the Global Trade and Innovation Policy Alliance (GTIPA) has published a new report examining how economies around the world are adapting to a more uncertain global trade environment. I-Com contributed to the report, titled The Aftermath of the 2025 U.S. Tariffs: How Countries Are Adapting to an Uncertain Global Trade System, with a chapter focusing on Italy’s response to the changing trade landscape.
The report finds that, while the tariff shock did not trigger the full-scale global trade war or recession many had initially feared, it has had lasting effects on the global policy landscape. In the chapter on Italy, I-Com highlights the resilience shown by the country’s export-driven SMEs, which adapted to global fragmentation by diversifying towards new markets, including Southeast Asia and the Gulf. Italian exports increased by 3.3% in value in 2025 compared with 2024, while exports to the United States rose by 7.2%, despite the introduction of tariffs.
At the same time, the analysis points to persistent uncertainty for exporting firms, linked to shifting tariffs, subsidies, regulatory divergence and geopolitical risks, including the impact of energy insecurity on Italy’s competitiveness. It also underlines how Italy’s policy priorities, in line with broader EU trends, are increasingly focused on trade diversification, supply-chain resilience, industrial strategy, digital sovereignty and a more sovereign “Made in Europe” approach.
By contributing to this new GTIPA report, I-Com reaffirms its commitment to supporting open, innovation-friendly and competitive markets, while helping foster a deeper understanding of the transformations reshaping global trade and the digital economy.
