The uncertainty of US tariffs on companies in Brescia and Bergamo. The export issue and €3.3 billion at risk.
July 13, 2025
For Lombard companies, economics and geopolitics are increasingly intertwined and determine the performance of markets and exports
Brescia, July 13, 2025 – Brescia and Bergamo are also among the provinces most exposed to US tariffs. According to a reanalysis by the Mestre-based CGIA, in 2024, Brescia's exports to the US market reached €1.5 billion (ranking ninth in Italy), a 5.4% increase over 2023; goods valued at €1.8 billion departed from the province of Bergamo , a 5.8% decrease (ranking seventh nationally).
Steel and aluminumCurrently, tariffs are 50% on steel, aluminum, and related products, 25% on auto parts, spare parts, and components, and 10% on other products until at least August 1st. What will happen if the tariff is raised to 20%? There is great concern about a backlash for exports, which in Brescia are already reporting poor figures for 2025 (-0.2% in the first quarter compared to the same period in 2024, while Bergamo performed better with +3.4%).
"Tariffs are no longer just economic instruments. They are political weapons in a world that is realigning," explains Andrea Muratore, geopolitical analyst and consultant for Confapi Brescia, who dedicated a webinar to the topic. " Europe and Italy , in particular, find themselves at the center of this new conflict. On the one hand, they are essential trading partners of Washington, on the other, they are the target of measures that risk affecting key industrial sectors, from mechanical engineering to agri-food, including advanced technologies. Companies can no longer afford to view foreign markets simply as sales outlets: they must interpret the geopolitical context, adapt their internationalization models, and prepare to manage regulatory instability, systemic pressures, and new competitive dynamics."
The constant fluctuations in negotiations between the United States and global powers, combined with the lack of structured agreements with the European Union, present companies with complex choices. Understanding the intertwining of trade rules and geopolitical relations is now a strategic priority for any company operating across borders.
" The tariff increases introduced by the United States can represent an opportunity for our companies to review and update their operating models for foreign markets," adds Matteo Piccinali, a lawyer specializing in commercial law, "through a review of the supply chain, customs strategies, and improved contractual discipline for commercial relationships with suppliers, intermediaries, and end customers. This will help us better address the changing dynamics of global trade in the future."
Il Giorno
