Duties, in Italy who pays the highest account of the new US Trump rates: cars, fashion, agriculture, mechanics, drugs

From cars to wines, from drugs to machinery. Italian companies await April 2 to understand in what terms the threats of Donald Trump will materialize. The US president has so far announced 25% rates on imported cars that are added to the « mutual » duties previously announced.

Which sectors could be affected by the duties and to what extent?

Cars rates could only be the first step. The EU Commissioner Maroš Šefcovic warned that the White House could impose 20% duties on imports from all 27 EU countries. In Italy, to pay the highest price, there could be those 23 thousand companies that Istat defines as « vulnerable » against foreign demand. According to the estimates of a recent analysis of the study and research management of Intesa Sanpaolo with duties of at least 20%, assuming a full transmission on prices, Italian exports at risk can be quantified in 9.6 billion dollars.

How much is the American market for Made in Italy?

In 2024 the sales of Italian goods in the United States reached 65 billion euros, with a surplus close to 39 billion. Italian export is more exposed than the EU average at the US market: 22.2% of Italian non-EU sales compared to 19.7% of EU ones.

What are the sectors that export most to the United States?

The main sectors in terms of export value to the United States, according to an analysis of the Confindustria Study Center, are: machinery and plants (12.4 billion), vehicles and other means of transport (11.1 billion), pharmaceutical (8 billion), food (4 billion), chemistry (2.9 billion), drinks (2.6 billion), clothing (2.4 billion). The most exposed sectors in terms of flows, on the other hand, are drinks (39% of exports are directed in the USA), vehicles and other means of transport (30.7% and 34.0%) and pharmaceuticals (30.7%).

What will be the most penalized companies by the duties announced on the car?

Those most dependent on exports, even the American ones such as General Motors and Ford who would see their profits decrease drastically. The cost effect will not be negligible even for Elon Musk’s house. German manufacturers risk being among the most affected. BMW is the largest car exporter per value in the USA. The German car association has declared that the consequences will affect both companies and the whole global supply chain, and asks for immediate negotiations between the United States and the EU. While Ferrari has already announced a 10% increase on some of its models sold in the United States.

What could be the repercussions for the components?

The duties will also be applied to the main important parts, such as engines, transmissions and electrical components. Furthermore, if they are declared incorrectly, the right of 25% will be applied to the entire value of the vehicle.

Could new alliances arise among European car manufacturers?

This is a test that concerns all of Europe, agreements with France could be born, and both Ferrari and Lamborghini who have been operating in the United States could come into play.

The United States are the first export market for industrial machinery, what does the sector risk?

« The American industry would not be able to do without our machinery because it is not ready to produce everything he would like, » says the president of Federmacchine Bruno Bettelli. “They must acquire a know-how they don’t have at the moment. And Italian machinery are not easily replaced. In the unique pieces we are unbeatable. So it is right to look carefully at the moves of the United States, but we must not panic. We must be aware of the extraordinary value of Made in Italy, « continues Bettelli.

In Trump’s sights there is also the pharmaceutical, how much would the duties weigh?

In 2024 drugs and vaccines were exported to the USA for a value of over 10 billion. If the 25%duties were introduced on these products, it would be a cost of over 2.5 billion, according to Farmindustria estimates. The introduction of duties on drugs would represent a threat primarily for the Americans because the drugs purchased from Italy would not be easily replaced, as highlighted the president of Farmindustria Marcello Cattani.

Do fashion also looks with concern for threats, how much do the US weighs for the sector?

The United States represent the third market for the exports of Italian fashion, with a commercial exchange from January to October 2024 of 4.5 billion for fashion, 3.1 billion for connected sectors, according to the estimates of trade associations.

What could be the impact of 25% duties on agri -food?

Italian exports in the USA exceeded 7.8 billion euros in 2024. A 25% duty would cost almost 500 million to the wine supply chain (for which there is the threat of duties of 200%), 240 million for olive oil, 170 million for pasta, 120 million for cheeses, according to Coldiretti.

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