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[→ click here to listen to the full interview on the Radio Radicale website]
With the introduction of the 15% American customs duty, Italian companies must rethink their export strategies. Lucio Miranda, president of ExportUSA, explains how to mitigate the impact through alternative import protocols and clarifies which sectors are truly affected.
Among the most requested solutions at ExportUSA's customs office is the protocol that allows calculating the duty not on the import price but on the industrial cost. In sectors like fashion, cosmetics, and footwear, where the industrial cost represents only 25% of the final price, the savings can be substantial.
The agreement between the United States and the European Union setting American customs duties at 15% marks a new chapter for Italian companies targeting the American market. After months of uncertainty, the definition of a clear tariff finally offers a solid basis for planning. ExportUSA, with its "Customs Duty Office", positions itself as a strategic partner for companies, providing targeted advice to navigate this new context.
Lucio Miranda, president of ExportUSA, reveals that the most common requests concern the classification of goods and the application of specific import protocols. Although the generalized 15% duty makes classification less "crucial" in terms of rates, it remains essential for the correct identification of the product. The real opportunity lies in the optimization of duty application.
ExportUSA, in collaboration with specialized law firms like GDLSK in New York, assists companies in applying import protocols that can significantly reduce the impact of customs duties:
Contrary to a widespread "legend", the 15% customs duty does not cripple the Italian wine sector in the United States. Miranda explains with a concrete example: if the average import price of Prosecco is 5.50 dollars, the 15% duty represents only 0.825 dollar. Considering that the retail price of a bottle of Prosecco in New York ranges between 18 and 25 dollars (or more), an increase of less than a dollar is marginal and easily absorbed by the long distribution chain. This applies to all wines and spirits, where the difference between the import cost and the final consumer price is wide.
The introduction of these customs duties generates significant tax revenue for the United States. The president of ExportUSA roughly estimates an annual intake of about 600 billion dollars, based on the fact that a 15% duty is not likely to cause a collapse in imports. The USA has already collected 100 billion dollars in customs duties, a historic figure.
Regarding the European position, he suggests that Ursula von der Leyen's strategy of not reacting immediately in an aggressive manner was wise. The game is not over yet: the political agreement must now be translated into technical details, and "the devil is in the details". This leaves room for future negotiations and the implementation of countermeasures, if necessary.