Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called for a “pragmatic approach” to prevent the EU-US tariff dispute from escalating into a full-blown trade war, and expressed support for US President Donald Trump's efforts to broker a ceasefire in Ukraine.
Speaking in the Italian Senate ahead of a meeting of EU leaders this week, Ms Meloni made her first substantive remarks on the policies Mr Trump has impressed Europe with in the two months since his appointment.
Ms Meloni has taken a diplomatic approach to tariffs and supported Mr Trump’s call for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine as a potential way to end the conflict. She has also rejected the possibility of sending Italian troops to Ukraine and opposed the idea of a security force proposed by Britain and France.
She also reiterated her commitment to continue with a controversial and long-running plan to check migrants outside the EU's borders in Albania.
“We support the efforts of US President Donald Trump in this direction,” she said, adding that the proposed ceasefire agreement “is the first significant step on the path that should lead to justice and sustainable peace for Ukraine.”
Ms Meloni also confirmed that sending Italian troops to Ukraine was “not a hot topic”.
“We believe that the proposal to send European troops, made by Great Britain and France, is a very difficult, risky and ineffective decision,” she stressed.
Ms Meloni expressed hope that a trade war with the United States could be avoided after the EU responded to US steel tariffs with retaliatory tariffs on American whiskey and spirits.
Italian winemakers, whose exports to the US reached €2bn (£1.68bn) last year, are among those bracing for the potential threat of tariffs of up to 200% if EU tariffs come into force on April 1.
“I believe we need to be concrete and pragmatic in order to find a common solution and avoid a trade war that will not benefit anyone, neither the United States nor Europe,” Ms. Meloni said.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
