From 29 August 2025 the United States have introduced a new tariff regime that is significantly affecting Italian exports. The modification to the de minimis regime has eliminated the threshold of 800 dollars under which the goods could enter Duty-Free, radically changing the conditions for over 34 thousand Italian companies active in the export. The measure affects key sectors such as agri -food, mechanical, automotive and pharmaceutical.
The new tariff rules
The criterion of the country of origin is now decisive: if a good is produced in China, even if sold by an Italian company, the applied duty remains the one calculated on the made in China. This mechanism affects both the general rates and those related to commercial disputes such as section 301 on Chinese products. At the same time, the US administration has increased the unique duty on goods from the European Union from 10% to 15%, redesigning the competitiveness of European companies on American markets. The consequences are immediate: increase in costs at the entry and contraction of the margins, with a direct reflection on internal demand in the USA.
The most affected sectors
According to estimates, about 34 thousand Italian companies are exposed to the new scenario. Among the most penalized sectors there are agri -food: wines, oil and typical products must face increased customs costs that affect the exported quantities. Even the automotive remains under pressure, while benefiting from a reduction of duties compared to the past (from 25% to 15%), due to the strong Asian competition and reduced margins. Relevant novelty is the inclusion of the pharmaceutical, a sector that for the first time must face duties at the entrance to the United States. This opens uncertain scenarios for a sector considered strategic and constantly growing.
The macroeconomic impact
The increase in duties is added to the strengthening of the dollar, with direct effects on the increase in final prices in the United States. The main trade associations estimate a negative impact on European GDP between 0.2 and 0.3 percentage points in the months of August and September only. Italy, together with Germany, is among the most vulnerable countries, for the strong dependence on exports to the American market. The latest Istat data confirm the trend: in August 2025 Italian exports to the USA recorded a 21.2% drop on an annual basis. The contraction concerned in particular the instrumental assets and non -durable consumer goods, but the phenomenon appears to be spread on almost all sectors.
The repercussions on digital companies
The consequences of the new tariff barriers are not limited to traditional manufacture. Cross-Border digital trade lives the impact in real time: higher costs, bureaucratic complexity and longer shipping times modify prices and customer experiences. The operators in the sector underline how the regulatory variable is now structural and requires a constant adaptation of the strategies. Several observers such as Calicantus, a Venetian company that operates such as Ecommerce Service Provider and Merchant of Record, highlight the need for companies to review their organizational models, investing in monitoring tools, simulation of customs costs and market diversification. This approach allows you to react more promptly to sudden changes and reduces the risk of interruptions in the continuity of sales.
