Protectionism and duties: the impact on the Italian Ceramic tile and Balsamic Vinegar Industries.

In recent years, the resurgence of protectionism has sparked a broad debate within the international economic community. This dissertation examines the effects that tariffs and trade barriers have generated on consumers and productive sectors, with particular attention to the Italian ceramic industry and the balsamic vinegar sector. The analysis combines a review of the economic literature on protectionism with two empirical case studies, based on international trade data and interviews with industry representatives. The results show that, in the ceramic sector, the most significant negative effect was caused by the depreciation of the US dollar, which led to a decline in investments. In the case of balsamic vinegar, instead, the tariffs introduced by the United States negatively affected the growth of exports. The study highlights that protectionist policies, although aimed at supporting domestic production, can generate adverse side effects on the competitiveness of Italian exporting sectors, reducing their potential for growth in international markets.