Today, we hosted the first USA Meetup of the year, an engaging session held as part of the newly established USA Navigator platform. This session also marked the start of this year’s topic-focused discussions, beginning with The U.S. Market and Tariffs: You Ask, the Expert Answers.

The USA Navigator Platform is designed to support companies in Slovenia by exchanging insights and best practices for doing business with the United States or entering the U.S. market.

We were thrilled to host Steve Staresinic—CPA, CGMA, international business consultant, and co-founder of a real estate start-up operating in both Pittsburgh, PA, and Stuttgart, Germany.

Steve provided clarity on the newly announced U.S. tariffs and offered expert knowledge in the broader trade and geopolitical environment.

With global trade rules changing, here are five critical takeaways:

• April 2025 brings sweeping U.S. tariff changes: 20% on all EU goods, 10% general import tariffs, and 25% on steel, aluminum, and auto sectors. Companies must act fast and smart.
• For European companies, this is not just another policy update. It is a prompt to be proactive, strategic, and future-focused.
• Slovenia and its neighbors in Central & Eastern Europe may have a rare opportunity to strengthen economic ties with the U.S., but only if we move wisely.
• From tariff engineering to joint ventures in the U.S., strategic moves can mean big savings. Do not just absorb the costs — outsmart them.

Vida Dolenc Pogačnik, our COO and International Cooperation Director, mentioned during the conversation that U.S. economists have been forecasting a recession for this year. This will not be caused by the introduction of tariffs, as the recession has been anticipated for some time. However, tariffs are likely to worsen the situation. AmCham Slovenia will closely monitor developments in the U.S. economy and support its members in navigating potential challenges.