Unimpresa on ISTAT data: exports to the US up 34.4%, but Europe risks being a bystander in the new economic order
Italy between resilience and geopolitical risk
According to ISTAT, Italy’s exports to the United States rose by 34.4% in September, while imports increased by 76.8%, just one month after the introduction of US tariffs.
These figures highlight the resilience of Italian industry, yet also expose the fragility of a global trade system increasingly shaped by geopolitical decisions.
Paolo Longobardi, president of Unimpresa, notes that behind these numbers lies a deeper transformation: the realignment of global value chains that Europe must manage with a shared industrial strategy.
Made in Italy: quality, innovation and reputation
Despite growing international uncertainty, Made in Italy continues to thrive thanks to product quality, technological research, and industrial innovation.
Key sectors such as mechanical engineering, fashion, and energy are leading the growth, confirming that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) remain the backbone of Italy’s economy.
However, Longobardi warns that the international trade structure is becoming increasingly volatile, with politics overtaking economics in shaping global exchanges.
Europe must act as one
Unimpresa argues that Europe must no longer stand by but instead lead.
It must develop a coordinated industrial policy capable of defending its productive ecosystem and ensuring economic sovereignty.
Rising exports to OPEC countries (+23.8%), Japan (+15.6%), and Switzerland (+10%) show that global demand remains strong, but also that Italy must anticipate shifts rather than react to them.
This means strengthening economic diplomacy, investing in research and innovation, and facilitating access to credit for companies ready to expand.
Unimpresa’s message: a long-term vision for Europe
The growth in exports is not just positive news — it’s a warning sign.
The new world trade order cannot be managed with tariffs alone.
It requires a European industrial vision that protects production chains, supports innovation, and defends the competitiveness of SMEs.
As Longobardi concludes, “Europe must regain its leadership role in global trade — not as a follower, but as a protagonist.”