Between duties and uncertainties, the appeal of the Venetian industrialists: "The government should be more courageous with Trump"

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Trump's swings are "never good news," warns Paola Carron , president of Confindustria Veneto Est. "Meloni has a preferential channel with him that I hope will be used to the best of her ability, to the benefit of Italy and Europe," she hopes, now that the United States has opened up to the possibility of extending negotiations with the European Union to find an agreement that will put an end to the trade war. The Trump Administration's latest offer would be to introduce duties of 10 percent, a lower threshold than that proposed months ago. "If that were the case, it would mean less heavy tariffs than initially feared," Carron says. "However, we need to carefully evaluate each sector. Because while for some products they could be sustainable and perhaps absorbable, for others it might not be the case."

So maximum caution, especially in this "truly particular" historical moment: once upon a time, major global changes occurred at a certain distance from each other, but today structural geopolitical tensions move at such a speed that they put the economy's ability to adapt to the test". So one word prevails above all others: uncertainty. "And for our businesses it risks being a sentence", the warning from the north-east. "If we do not soon have an extraordinary industrial plan, which incentivizes investments and technological transition, within a decade we risk being cut off from the markets". A dressing down from the right, "because the government has done too little so far, without giving a clear boost to companies". A dressing down from the left, "because the issue of work is central, but it is pursued with reforms and not through political flags or incomprehensible referendum texts". But also scolded the world, if that were possible: " I represent 5,000 entrepreneurial players in northeastern Italy, all tied to strong exports. But on a human level, unfortunately, we are getting used to a permanent state of war. We talk a lot about sustainability, about production values: the issue, however, is to leave a better place for our children. On this we are even further away, given recent events".

And so we return to Trump. “Getting up in the morning and not knowing what could happen based on the statements of the American president is creating strong instability,” Carron denies once and for all the litany of a certain policy according to which threats – of duties, sanctions, military commitment or disengagement – ​​should be played down, because they do not always correspond to facts of similar magnitude . “But words have weight. And they generate hesitation in entrepreneurs: they are more reluctant to invest, they freeze their wallets. When instead, due to the competitive challenges that loom on innovation, companies need to invest. I agree with the appeal of President Orsini,” who also underlined the urgency of an extraordinary industrial plan in Il Foglio. “Unfortunately, we are used to thinking about one financial plan after another. However, companies need a vision, at least a three-year framework that clarifies: where will the resources go? If Industry 4.0 had given a clear boost to our SMEs, today the situation is still confused: less than 10 percent of the 6 billion allocated by the Transition Plan has been used”.

Wasted time. “Not to mention the energy drama,” notes the Confindustria member. “We are asking the government to address the cost of energy, decoupling the price of gas from renewables and reducing system charges. Today our companies pay 40 percent more than the European average and even 80 percent more than France.” The reason is easy to explain. “We need a balanced mix of supply sources: it is right to invest in renewables, but we must also look at new-generation modular nuclear power. We are surrounded by countries that use it. If we move, we can still be in the game. Otherwise, we will be left behind.” And the market does not give discounts. “Again, Meloni can do more to manage the Trump variable: dialogue and the intelligence of the parties involved must make it clear that any protectionist action has negative consequences for everyone. Even for the United States.”

The Donald factor always lurking. “Certainly someone has gained a lot from some of his statements”, insider trading plus market manipulation, “and this is not correct. By now we know his character, his constant twists and turns. But in this way he paralyzes entrepreneurship. When instead the exact opposite of immobility is needed. It is not a problem of money, but of investment decisions ”. In such a situation, at least our SMEs seem to be holding up. For now. “Veneto is slightly down but holding up. At the beginning of 2025 there is even a slight increase in exports: a symptom of great resilience, in the face of even greater questions of geopolitics. But one thing needs to be added”. What do you mean? “SMEs, like intelligent animals, perk up their antennas and act accordingly. The first effect of the duties is to push them to look towards different markets: India, Brazil, the Middle East. Even Mexico”. To the delight of the White House.

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