Rome: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni criticized the US on Wednesday for imposing tariffs on the European Union, calling it a ‘wrong measure.’ Her remarks came after US President Donald Trump announced 20% tariffs on goods from the European Union late Wednesday as part of his long-promised vow to impose reciprocal tariffs on nations worldwide.
According to Anadolu Agency, Meloni expressed her concerns via a post on Facebook, stating, “I consider the US imposing customs tariffs on the EU to be a wrong measure, and it is not in the interest of either party.” She emphasized the potential consequences of such actions, noting, “We will do everything we can to reach an agreement with the US because we believe such a trade war would inevitably weaken the West and benefit other global players. In any case, as always, we will act in consultation with our European partners, protecting Italy’s and the economy’s interests.”
Further highlighting the risk of trade wars, Italian Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Antonio Tajani echoed Meloni’s sentiments, stressing the detrimental impact the tariffs could have. “We are already working with our EU and European partners to assess the situation and develop a joint response. A pragmatic response based on dialogue is necessary,” Tajani said.
He also underscored the importance of negotiations, stating, “There is a need for solid and constructive negotiations that take into account the concerns of the US while safeguarding Europe’s legitimate interests. Our government will not leave Italy’s production system vulnerable and will work to diversify the markets for our products in line with our export action plan.”