Customs barriers tripled in 5 years But Italy keeps pace

The tariffs introduced by the Trump administration are just the tip of the Iceberg of a world trade under tremendous tension. In fact, restrictive measures, internationally, have increased 3.5 times compared to the pre-pandemic period: in 2024, 4,370 barriers were introduced, while in the first ten months of 2025 alone, 2,235 were recorded. Specifically in the United States, Trump's tariff policy has raised average rates to 17.9%, the highest level since 1934, which has tripled customs revenue to $29.6 billion per month.

This 'post-globalisation' or 'fragmentation' of global trade was discussed yesterday at the third Forum on International Trade, organised in Milan by ARcom Formazione under the patronage of the European Commission, Simest, Aice and the Lombardy Region. 'Tariffs are no longer just an economic tool: they have become a geopolitical weapon,' explained Sara Armella, managing partner of the Armella & Associati law firm and scientific director of the Forum. 'In this scenario, customs knowledge and market diversification become survival levers for Italian companies. Geopolitical fragmentation 'could cause world trade to lose up to $3 trillion by 2035. Strategic management of internationalisation and decisive support for foreign investments and industrial districts is essential,' stressed Valentino Valentini, deputy minister of Enterprise and Made in Italy.

It has to be said that, despite the situation, Italy is keeping pace: in the first half of this year, exports reached EUR 322.6 billion (an increase of 2.1% compared to the same period last year), while France and Germany recorded a drop of 0.9%. However, the impact of tariffs is already being felt and the ICE Agency estimates that Italian companies will have to bear up to EUR 10.6 billion in additional costs, with a possible negative effect on GDP of between 0.2% and 1.4%.

This is why it is necessary - although obviously not easy - for companies to diversify their reference markets as much as possible: a White Paper presented by ARcom Formazione showed that just 13% of Italian exports today head for 'new' routes, leaving an unexpressed potential of more than EUR 85 billion. The European Union already has 45 free trade agreements with 79 non-EU countries, which generate 46% of European foreign trade. The most interesting markets in this respect are Mercosur, India and South-East Asia.