Divisions in the core of global capitalism? Italian labour and ‘free trade’

Historically, the global labour movement has been divided over ‘free trade’. Many unions in the Global North, especially in export-oriented sectors, supported such agreements to secure markets and jobs, while unions in the Global South opposed them, having experienced job losses and deindustrialisation. The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) changed the situation, prompting unions in both Europe and North America to oppose it. Traditional divisions later reappeared in Europe over the EU–Mercosur agreement. This article examines how the Italian labour movement – including trade unions and social movements such as Fridays for Future and ATTAC Italia – has reconsidered its position on trade. Building on successful campaigns against water privatisation and TTIP and in the context of significant deindustrialisation in Italy, a broad alliance emerged that not only blocked Italy’s ratification of the EU–Canada Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) but also mobilised against the EU–Mercosur deal. This indicates a split within the Global North, the core of global capitalism, with Italian unions having moved towards a more explicitly anti-‘free trade’ position.