On 27 May, the SACMI Auditorium in Imola hosted a conference promoted by Italiansped on the topic of ‘Tariffs and international transport under new business and geopolitical dynamics’. With global markets redefining their priorities and rules, and developed economies trying to check-mate each other - with uncertain outcomes - this event was a unique opportunity to hear the opinions of experts in logistics, law and geopolitics.
 
To begin, the speakers explored the threat of tariffs and the regionalization of global trade, highly topical issues that have a direct impact on those involved in international supply chain shipping/logistics on a daily basis.
 
Angelo Scorza, editor of the online magazine Ship2Shore, was the moderator and the speakers were Augusto Cosulich, President and CEO of Fratelli Cosulich SpA, Ignazio Messina, CEO of Ignazio Messina & C. SpA, and Claudio Perrella, a lawyer at RP Legalitax. The discussion then moved on to an in-depth analysis of the main economic and geopolitical dynamics at play, with Federico Petroni, analyst and coordinator of the Limes school, and Giuseppe Torluccio, full professor at the Department of Business Sciences, UNIBO.
 
Many topics emerged during the round table: the fragmentation of global trade, where a ‘blocs’ mentality is replacing global free trade; pressure on both ports and routes, with implications in terms of security, risk management and related costs; changes in customs regulations as a result of current international tensions, again with related impacts on companies, shipping times and costs.
 
The meeting also analysed Italy's potential to position itself not just as a transit hub but as a more strategic ‘Mediterranean hub’. Doing so will require innovation and sustainability - two key aspects set to determine the future of transport - and a healthy dose of lateral thinking and game theory, valuable new tools that help economists interpret unprecedented scenarios.
 
This event attracted numerous participants, offering new insights and a range of perspectives with which to address the challenges of tomorrow's logistics with practicality and vision.