The main objective must be to work to avoid a commercial war, but this does not “do not exclude, if necessary, to also have to imagine adequate answers to defend our productions”, says Giorgia Meloni. “If we have to react, we will react. But it’s the extreme ratio,” underlines the vice premier Antonio Tajani.
The two felt in the morning, according to what is learned: the government line on the topic of duties is to wait for the decisions of the American president, Donald Trump, and then evaluate. In any case, the position is that of graduality, of calm: “It is a marathon, it is not the ‘one hundred meters’ …”.
The Prime Minister continues to launch warnings, the introduction of new duties “would have heavy implications for Italian producers” but “it would also be an injustice for many Americans because it would limit the possibility of buying and consuming our excellence”.
In short, the thesis is that they do not agree to anyone, it serves dialogue. “Not a belly reaction,” says the head of the Farnesina who considers Sergio Mattarella’s words “wise”. The duties are a “profound error”, on the European part “serves a compact, serene, determined response,” said the President of the Republic.
Therefore, the ‘liberation day’ is expected while the EU Commission prepares countermeasures. Tomorrow the Head of the Farnesina will see Commissioner for Commerce for the SEFcovic Commerce in Brussels and on Monday he will be in Luxembourg for the Commerce Council: “We are in constant contact with the European Commission. President Meloni regularly feels also on these issues the president von der Leyen”.
The goal of the government “is to strengthen the entrepreneurial system of our country”, in short – the ‘refrain’ – our companies “are not parasites”. The minister announced that he has established a new operational unit for exports (by the end of the legislature it must reach a value of 700 billion euros “) and reiterated that he wants to aim” to a strong diversification in addition to our most important traditional outlet markets “.
The game is played on the timing, as well as on the products on which the duties will be introduced. Do like Canada? “Each country reacts as he believes. We need a necessary time, but you must not go to the Greek calends,” says Fi’s leader. The premise is that Europe will be, while Matteo Salvini has always wished, thesis that should also be relaunched by the League ‘governors’, also a channel between Rome and Washington. Meloni this morning mentioned above all the defense of our agri -food, “it was a priority for this government since its settlement”.
And it is precisely on the US moves regarding this sector that is looked at with greater attention. The belief in the government is that the premier will be able to carve out a role of mending (“looking above all to the interests of our country and not excluding bilateral agreements”, explains a ‘big’ of Fdi), also in view of the visit to the United States at Easter of the vice -president Vance, already considered as the possible future successor of the ‘Tycoon’.
A visit that will serve not only to face the dossier of the duties, but also to prepare the use ‘who will make the Prime Minister (“I think in May”, says the same source) to the White House. Meanwhile, the consequences of what will happen will be weighed in the executive. “The United States” are the second destination market, with an export that in 2024 rose by 17%, “said Meloni.
“I am convinced that a commercial war can cause a growth in inflation in the United States and the Federal Reserve – observed Tajani – will be forced to raise the cost of money. We have to do the exact opposite if we want to be competitive, always leave the free market, the open market and the European Central Bank, if we aim for growth, it must absolutely not increase the cost of money, indeed it must continue to do what it has done”.