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As the world faces historic challenges — from competition with China to war in Ukraine, from the energy crisis to logistical instability — free trade, a key driver of growth and prosperity for productive nations, is under renewed attack. The Trade Barrier Index 2025 (TBI), recently released by an international team of researchers, paints a clear picture: trade barriers are rising, and the West, instead of leading the cause of economic freedom, is turning inward.
The index analyzes 122 countries, covering 97% of global GDP, and shows that the level of trade restrictions has increased by 7% in just two years. This isn’t just about tariffs — the real danger now lies in indirect barriers: digital regulations, service restrictions, and bureaucratic hurdles. Alarmingly, the worst performers are not authoritarian regimes, but Western democracies.
Ideology Replaces Markets: The West’s Contradictions
Under the guise of “digital ethics,” “sustainability,” and “data rights,” Western governments are building regulatory walls that suffocate economic dynamism.
The TBI is blunt: the worst countries for digital trade restrictions are Germany (121st), France (122nd), Italy (119th), Spain (118th), and Hungary (120th). The culprits? A toxic mix of EU regulations — the GDPR, the Digital Services Act, the Digital Markets Act, and now the AI Act — that pile legal and financial burdens on anyone wanting to do business online.
The reality is that these rules mainly hurt small businesses and start-ups, stifling innovation and competition. As Fratelli d’Italia has long argued, these measures are not about protecting people — they’re about expanding power in the hands of unelected bureaucrats. As Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has repeatedly stated: “We cannot suffocate business competitiveness in the name of an ideology that exists only to justify more powers for those who have never been elected.”
Italy: Trapped Between EU Overreach and Domestic Inertia
Italy ranks just 50th out of 122 countries — a disappointing position for one of Europe’s leading manufacturing nations. The key issues are excessive service sector restrictions, inefficient logistics, and crippling bureaucracy.
Italy remains a victim of economic policies dictated by Brussels, having accepted every new directive without defending its own industrial base. What’s needed is a patriotic shift — one that frees Italian businesses from Brussels’ chokehold and fosters bilateral trade agreements tailored to Italy’s national interests.
The CANZUK Model: Conservative Free Trade in Action
Shining brightly in the index are the English-speaking countries of the CANZUK alliance — Canada (4th), Australia (7th), New Zealand (6th), and the United Kingdom (9th) — proving that free trade and national sovereignty can coexist.
The UK, in particular, has climbed the rankings post-Brexit, thanks to a more autonomous and pragmatic trade policy. These countries show that free markets do not require globalist submission, but thrive best when guided by strong, sovereign governments committed to their people.
Tariffs and Protectionism on the Rise in the Global South
While traditional tariffs remain the weapon of choice in many developing countries — with India (120th), Indonesia (122nd), Vietnam (117th), and Egypt (82nd) topping the list — what’s most alarming is that even the United States is drifting back toward tariffs.
According to the TBI, President Trump’s recently announced tariff strategy could, if fully implemented, drop the U.S. from 61st to 111th place — a sign of how unstable global trade norms have become.
Service Restrictions and NTBs: The New Face of Protectionism
While poorer countries rely on tariffs, wealthier nations are deploying less visible — but equally damaging — tools: professional licensing hurdles, sanitary rules, technical standards, and digital barriers.
The EU is one of the worst offenders, using “safety” and “environmental” justifications to block imports such as American poultry or Argentine beef. These are not policies to protect consumers — they are protectionist weapons dressed in green rhetoric.
The Conservative Answer: Less Bureaucracy, More Economic Freedom
The Trade Barrier Index 2025 confirms what Fratelli d’Italia has said all along: excessive regulation doesn’t protect citizens — it chokes real economies, stifles small business, and benefits multinational giants who can afford to navigate the red tape.
We need an economic strategy rooted in conservatism, sovereignty, and productivity: one that reduces trade barriers, cuts red tape, enhances logistics and legal certainty, and forges bilateral partnerships with like-minded nations based on mutual interest and respect.