Italy to United States freight shipping.

Ocean freight from Italy to the USA takes 14–22 days. From Genoa or Livorno to New York, transit runs about 14–18 days, on direct North Atlantic services. Routes to Baltimore or Savannah take a similar amount of time. Air freight also works well. From Milan Malpensa or Rome Fiumicino to major US cities, it takes 2–4 days, with many daily direct and one-stop flights.

Wine imports from Italy to the USA need several papers. First is a TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) importer basic permit. Next is a Certificate of Label Approval (COLA), one for each wine label. You also need a commercial invoice with wine details — vintage, appellation, producer — plus a packing list, a bill of lading, and CBP Form 7501. Wine must follow TTB label rules too. If you claim your wine is organic, you need USDA organic certification. Suaid Global manages all TTB and FDA Prior Notice filings for wine importers from Italy.

Not to the China-specific Section 301 lists. But since July 24, 2026, a separate Section 301 action covers EU goods, Italian ones included: MFN plus that duty totals 10%, and it adds nothing when MFN is already 10% or more. Between 2018 and 2021, the USA did add a 25% retaliatory tariff on some EU goods — including Italian wine, cheese, and fashion items — as part of the Airbus and Boeing WTO dispute. That tariff ended in June 2021, under a US–EU deal. Today, goods from Italy pay MFN rates plus any Section 301 top-up that applies; check the USTR annexes for exemptions.

CBP watches declared values closely on luxury goods. Under-declaring the value is a common target for enforcement. Luxury Italian goods, like handbags, shoes, and clothes, must show the right transaction value — the price paid or owed. Customs can seize goods that are fake or sold gray-market. Real goods should come with official brand invoices. First-sale value may apply when a supply chain has several tiers. Suaid Global advises luxury goods importers on the right value and the right paperwork.

Italy's top exports to the USA span several groups. First is machinery for industry and packaging. Italy ranks as the world's #2 machinery exporter, right after Germany. Next comes luxury fashion and leather goods. Names like Gucci, Prada, Armani, and Versace lead this group. Wine and spirits rank high too. So do furniture and home brands, like Poltrona Frau and B&B Italia. The list also includes food — olive oil, pasta, cheese, and prosciutto. It also includes medicine and natural stone, like Carrara marble.

Every food facility importer needs FDA registration first. Next, you must file FDA Prior Notice for each food shipment you send. Meat and poultry need one more step: USDA FSIS inspection, plus an import permit. Dairy products need FDA paperwork. They often need USDA paperwork too. If you claim organic, you need USDA papers that show your organic certification is equivalent. Processed foods must also follow FDA rules for labels. Suaid Global handles all food import rules for Italian food and drink importers.