Claudio Feltrin, the president of FederlegnoArredo, which represents the wood, furniture, and lighting industries in Italy, has voiced significant concerns regarding the uncertainty surrounding tariffs. He noted that the trade complications come at a time when the industry was just beginning to adjust to previous tariff challenges. The apprehension about these tariffs adds to existing worries about the strength of the dollar, which has been weakening, and the increasing competition from Chinese products in the global market.

The federation Feltrin leads is particularly worried about an estimated 8-9% loss of market share in the United States. This decline would be detrimental, considering the importance of the US market for Italian wood and furniture exports. The challenges posed by a weakening dollar complicate matters further, as it reduces the competitiveness of Italian products against cheaper alternatives and dampens overall sales, impacting many jobs in this sector and the broader Italian economy.

Feltrin emphasizes that alongside tariffs and currency issues, Italian industries face growing competition from China, which threatens to erode their position in the global marketplace. He insists that both domestic and European policy measures need to be urgently considered to support the local industries that are struggling with these global economic pressures, highlighting the need for a strategic response to ensure their sustainability and growth.