As the global business landscape shifts under the weight of geopolitical tensions and economic recalibrations, recent developments at Pirelli are emblematic of how the context is forcing tyre businesses to be strategically agile.

On 27 March 2025, Pirelli CEO Andrea Casaluci addressed the press following an already-postponed board meeting, signalling ongoing negotiations with its largest shareholder, China’s state-owned Sinochem, which holds a 37 per cent stake. The messaging was clear: Pirelli must adapt to new realities, particularly in the US market, where President Donald Trump’s escalating trade war threatens to put the economic brakes on companies with significant Chinese ties. Here I examine how Pirelli’s predicament reflects broader challenges for multinational firms, intertwining Trump’s tariffs, parallel Italian governance, and economic headwinds in the UK, while spotlighting opportunities for agile businesses.