**Rome**: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni urges a reasonable approach to escalating US-EU tensions over tariffs. While acknowledging challenges, she defends transatlantic unity and hopes for dialogue to resolve the trade conflict, which poses significant risks for the Italian economy reliant on US exports.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has called for a reasonable approach regarding the escalating trade dispute between the United States and the European Union, as reported by various news agencies including AFP and ANSA. Meloni highlighted the significance of transatlantic unity in her remarks made at a conference of the centrist party ‘Action’.
In her address, Meloni emphasised her responsibility to defend and, if necessary, rebuild transatlantic alliances. She remarked, “Clearly there are differences regarding tariffs, but precisely for that reason, I think we should not act in an impulsive way, but in a reasonable manner.”
The tensions between the US and EU intensified after US President Donald Trump announced a 25 per cent tariff on cars imported into the US, effective from April 3. Additionally, Washington has threatened to impose a 200 per cent tariff on European wines, champagne and other alcoholic beverages, particularly targeting French imports.
The latest developments in trade relations come shortly after the EU decided last week to postpone its countermeasures against the US, initially set to respond to tariffs Trump had already imposed on steel and aluminium. This suspension aims to ensure a coordinated European response to the rising trade tensions.
Emanuele Orsini, head of the Italian industrial confederation Confindustria, warned that a trade war would pose a significant challenge for Italy. He expressed hopes that the EU could negotiate a solution with the US through dialogue.
Meloni, notably the only European leader present at Trump’s inauguration, reiterated in her first international interview since taking office with the Financial Times, that the US remains Italy’s primary ally. She acknowledged the criticisms made by US Vice President JD Vance regarding Europe, asserting a shared understanding that freedom of speech and democracy in Europe are perceived to be in decline. “Europe has lost its way a little,” she stated, reiterating sentiments she claims to have expressed for years.
In a response to Meloni’s comments, Elly Schlein, leader of the Democratic Party in Italy, accused her government of becoming a Trojan horse for the Trump administration within the EU. Nonetheless, Meloni voiced her support for EU plans to bolster European defence but ruled out sending Italian troops to potentially participate in a ground force in Ukraine once a peace agreement is reached.
As Italy contributes approximately 10 per cent of its exports to the US, with manufacturing machines and their parts making up half of that figure, the implications of the trade dispute remain significant for the Italian economy.
Source: Noah Wire Services
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