Assofermet convened its autumn conference in Rome on 2 October 2026 to address tariffs, geopolitics, & carbon border adjustment mechanism challenges confronting Italian metals companies. Association president Cinzia Vezzosi highlighted rapid adaptability as a paramount strength of Italian small & medium-sized enterprises. Alessandro Panaro identified “the cost of geopolitics” as a new expense item, citing a 112% increase in freight rates. Italian ports handled 510 million metric tons in 2025. Andrea Di Sotto characterized the carbon border adjustment mechanism as “a hidden tariff” complicating purchasing strategies