Managing risk and international guarantees: the value of prevention in global trade

In Brescia, Verlingue and Andersen International Legal Firm brought together local businesses to discuss customs duties, contractual risks, and surety guarantees

On Thursday, 16 October 2025, Verlingue’s Brescia office hosted a business event in partnership with Andersen International Legal Firm, bringing together a wide range of local companies to explore the challenges of customs duties and cross-border risk management.In today’s volatile global landscape, marked by geopolitical tensions, shifting regulations, and economic uncertainty, companies must learn to anticipate and mitigate risks that can compromise the stability of their international contracts. The discussion focused on several key areas:- Contractual obligations and the importance of clearly defining them to prevent disputes;- The risk of unilateral contract termination, which can disrupt trade relationships and supply continuity;- The political risk, linked to sanctions, armed conflicts, or sudden changes in governance.Speakers also addressed the role of insurance coverage as a strategic safeguard to protect production costs, maintain financial resilience, and cover losses arising from catastrophic events — risks that have become increasingly unpredictable in recent years. The session concluded with a deep dive into surety guarantees, a fundamental component of international projects and tenders, including:- the Bid Bond, securing the contractor’s commitment during the tender phase;- the Performance Bond, ensuring the proper execution of contractual obligations;- and the Warranty Bond, covering post-delivery obligations and performance guarantees.The high level of engagement among participants turned the event into a valuable exchange of expertise and best practices.A sincere thank-you goes to Andersen International Legal Firm for its contribution and to all participating companies for their active involvement.Representing Verlingue were Maurizio Zucaro (host), Manuel Gentili (credit section) and Fabio Comincini (bond section). They all agreed that knowledge and preventive risk management are a form of responsibility towards the future and represent a competitive advantage.