On 13 October 2026, Confapi, the Italian Confederation of Private Small and Medium-sized Industry, announced the launch of Confapi USA, a new operational platform designed to facilitate access to the US market for the 118,000 SMEs within its network.
The initiative aims to provide Italian businesses with the services, expertise, commercial connections and financial tools needed to establish and strengthen a stable, competitive presence in the United States, Italy’s leading non-EU export market.
Entering the US market can pose significant challenges for smaller businesses, from understanding local regulations and tax and customs requirements to identifying reliable distributors, managing logistics and assessing the feasibility of establishing a local presence.
Confapi USA seeks to address these barriers through a flexible range of services, including market research, commercial partner identification, B2B meetings, business missions, legal and tax assistance, and support with shipping, customs and warehousing. Companies pursuing longer-term expansion will also be able to access assistance with negotiations, company establishment, trade fairs, joint ventures, temporary management and shared offices or showrooms.
According to Confapi President Cristian Camisa, the initiative goes beyond individual trade missions and trade fair participation by creating a continuous support structure that accompanies businesses throughout their internationalisation journey, from initial market assessment to the consolidation of their commercial presence.
By reducing the costs and complexity of international expansion, Confapi USA aims to help Italian industrial SMEs diversify their markets, strengthen their international competitiveness and seize new opportunities in the United States.
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