Competere remains an active member of the Global Trade and Innovation Policy Alliance (GTIPA), a global network of independent think tanks focused on trade, innovation, and sustainable growth. As a founding partner, Competere helps drive evidence-based research and international cooperation to support smarter, innovation-friendly regulatory frameworks worldwide.

On 30 May, GTIPA has launched “The Aftermath of the 2025 U.S Tariffs: How Countries Are Adapting to an Uncertain Global Trade System”. The report highlights the global impact of Donald Trump’s 2025 “Liberation Day” tariffs, which introduced broad unilateral duties and reshaped international trade dynamics.

Key Takeaways

• Trade is now driven by uncertainty, not simple winners and losers: The main impact of the trade war is not collapse, but persistent uncertainty, higher costs, and weaker trust in global trade rules, despite strong resilience from Italian exporters.
• Italy is shifting to “defensive openness”: Policy is moving away from free-trade optimism toward resilience, supply chain security, industrial policy, and diversification to reduce economic vulnerability.
• Geopolitics is reshaping trade choices: The U.S. is seen as less predictable, China as more risky but still important, and Italy is increasingly focused on diversification and managing geopolitical exposure.

Italy: Adapting to a Fragmented Global Trade Order

Competere authored the section on Italy, showcasing the country’s shift from free-trade optimism to “defensive openness,” with a growing focus on resilience, diversification, industrial policy, and economic security. 

Trade strategy is increasingly aimed at reducing dependence on the U.S. and China through EU agreements and a broader push for “open strategic autonomy.”

Policy debates are also becoming more polarised between openness and protectionism, while perceptions of both the U.S. and China are becoming more pragmatic and cautious in an increasingly geopolitical trade environment.

iCom, Institute for Competitiveness, also contributed to the Italy section by highlighting the stronger-than-expected resilience of Italy’s export SMEs despite global trade fragmentation and tariff pressures.

Even under new tariffs, exports to the United States increased by 7.2%, confirming the adaptability of Italian industry.

However, rising energy costs linked to geopolitical tensions are now a key threat to competitiveness due to Italy’s reliance on imported fossil fuels.

Read GTIPA 2025 Report “GTIPA Perspectives: How Smart Deregulation Can Unleash Powerful Innovations Worldwide” >>>