From drugs to data centres, 'solid relationship between Italia and the US'
The event organised in Rome almost 250 years after the US Declaration of Independence
by Lorenzo Pace
Key points
he message is clear: the relationship between Italia and the United States does not depend on the government. This is being said by the institutions but also by the entrepreneurs of the two countries, which are supporting a trade system worth 118 billion euro in 2025. A year that, however, with such a turbulent geopolitical context, has seemed an eternity given the ups and downs between administrations, most recently President Donald Trump's 'barbs' at Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Yet, for businesses, both high-critical and consumer, these are minor issues.
"Tumultuous context" but "comforting" numbers
The occasion to reiterate this was the event dedicated to the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence. The initiative 'Americana 250! Bonds That Made History' was organised by the American Chamber of Commerce in Italy to confirm 'confidence in the transatlantic bond even in a complicated period', as president Stefano Lucchini explained. According to the managing director of AmCham Italy, Simone Crolla, the 'tumultuous context is only a parenthesis in the 250 years of relations' and the numbers continue to 'be comforting'.
The pharmaceutical sector 'pillar of Italia-US collaboration'
Whether tariffs or message exchanges, in short, matters little with such solid relations. The vision to be maintained, then, is in the long term. A few examples among the dozens of opinions of the entrepreneurs present. Let's start with the pharmaceutical sector, which has become central with almost 70 billion in exports by 2025. According to Federico Villa, VP Corporate Affairs & Patient Access of Ely Lilly Italia, 'the historical alliance has not broken down and indeed it has been highlighted that we are one of the pillars of collaboration. The risk is not of a stock effect, i.e. numbers distorted by the risk of tariffs, but rather of pressure on prices: 'We expect attention to ensure sustainability regardless of geopolitical tensions'.
Microsoft's investments in Italia
A message similar to those coming from American companies. From Microsoft, for example, which has been launching a data centre plan in Italy for years. "We have no intention of stopping," says the CEO in Italia, Vincenzo Esposito, "it would be counterproductive for the US.
From Uber to McDonald's: solid relationship also for consumer companies
As mentioned, this also applies to companies that sell goods and services directly to end consumers. From Uber, for example, the investments made in the country with the last Winter Olympics were highlighted. From McDonald's, on the other hand, the company's expansion in Italia, with over 800 restaurants and 40,000 employees, was highlighted.
