Headlines

US tariffs could cost Italy up to 0.8% of GDP, business lobby says

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on July 21, 2025

2 min read

· Last updated: January 22, 2026

Add as preferred source on Google
US tariffs could cost Italy up to 0.8% of GDP, business lobby says
Global Banking & Finance Awards 2026 — Call for Entries

MILAN (Reuters) -U.S. tariffs of 30% on European Union goods could shave up to 0.8% off Italy's gross domestic product in 2027, the country's main business lobby said on Monday, as transatlantic trade

Italy Faces Potential 0.8% GDP Loss Due to US Tariffs, Business Group Warns

Economic Impact of US Tariffs on Italy

MILAN (Reuters) -U.S. tariffs of 30% on European Union goods could shave up to 0.8% off Italy's gross domestic product in 2027, the country's main business lobby said on Monday, as transatlantic trade negotiations continued.

Projected GDP Loss

President Donald Trump has threatened 30% tariffs on EU imports starting August 1, but his trade chief Howard Lutnick said on Sunday there was "plenty of room" for an agreement with European counterparts.

Italy's Key Exports to the US

If 30% tariffs are confirmed, and assuming no countermeasures from the EU, Italy's GDP would take a 0.25% hit this year, rising to 0.59% in 2026 and 0.82% in 2027, Confindustria's research unit said.

Forecasts from Confindustria and EY

Italy's main exports to the U.S. include machinery, pharmaceuticals, cars and food products such as olive oil, pasta, cheese and wine.

In a separate report, professional services group EY issued even bleaker forecasts, predicting 30% tariffs would shave 1.4% off Italy's GDP for 2025-2026, effectively cutting to zero expected growth for the period.

Last month, national statistics agency Istat forecast GDP growth of 0.6% this year and 0.8% in 2026.

Italy's business lobby last week said the only acceptable U.S tariff would be zero as EU exports are already penalised by a depreciating dollar. The U.S. currency has lost more than 12% against the euro since the start of the year.

($1 = 0.8593 euros)

(Reporting by Sara Rossi, editing by Alvise Armellini and Christina Fincher)

Key Takeaways

  • US tariffs could cut Italy's GDP by 0.8% by 2027.
  • Italy's main exports to the US include machinery and food.
  • Confindustria warns of significant economic impact.
  • EY predicts a 1.4% GDP loss for 2025-2026.
  • US dollar depreciation affects EU exports.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is economic growth?
Economic growth is an increase in the production of goods and services in an economy over a period, often measured by GDP growth.
What is a business lobby?
A business lobby is an organization that advocates for the interests of businesses and industries, influencing public policy and legislation.

Tags

Related Articles

More from Headlines

Explore more articles in the Headlines category