The Effects of U.S. Import Duties on the Italian Wine Industry: The Case of Lambrusco and Cantine Riunite & CIV

Over the last decade, the internationalization process has become a key driver of unprecedented economic growth and competitiveness for Italian firms, especially within the agri-food and wine industries. As the globalization of markets results in an interconnected network of economic activity extending worldwide, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are increasingly relying on export strategies to expand their international presence and to reinforce their brand identity. However, this growing interconnectedness also has exposed them to external shocks, including geopolitical instability, trade protectionism, and market volatility. The purpose of this thesis is to explore the intersection between internationalization at the firm-level and trade disruptions at the macro-level, focusing on the recent trade barriers imposed by the US to the EU. Furthermore, the research is going to analyse the impact of tariff and non-tariff barriers – often so-called “trade wars” – on the European agri-food sector, and in particular on the Italian wine industry. Some insights would be on the disputes at the WTO, the American imposition of retaliatory tariffs on “Made in Italy” products, including the sparkling red wine “Lambrusco” exported from Emilia-Romagna, and the role of export intermediaries and distribution channels in the US market. The final chapter focuses on the regional dimension, with a specific case study of Cantine Riunite & Civ, one of the Italian largest wine cooperatives, with a large market share in the U.S. too. This research aims to provide a comprehensive understanding, by integrating theoretical insights, empirical evidence, and on-site interviews, of a reshaped global trade scenario by the recent U.S. tariff and non-tariff barriers: while protectionist policies threaten export competitiveness of Italian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large-scale enterprises (LSEs), cooperative models and territorial governance play a crucial role in protecting and ensuring the long-term economic growth of the Italy’s regional wine industry