Statement by the President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, and the Vice-Presidents of the Council of Ministers, Antonio Tajani and Matteo Salvini

The Italian Government welcomes the news that an agreement has been reached between the European Union and the United States on tariffs and trade policies, averting the risk of a trade war within the West which would have had unforeseeable consequences.

The European institutions and Member States, Italy included, worked together with great commitment as a team to reach a negotiated solution, thereby avoiding falling into the trap of those who called for a direct clash between the two sides of the Atlantic.

The agreement guarantees stability, which is key for relations between two economic and business systems that are as strongly interconnected as those of the European Union and the United States are.

We are in the process of reviewing the details of the agreement, but we consider the basis of the agreement, with tariffs at 15%, to be sustainable, especially if this percentage includes, and is not in addition to, previous tariffs, as was initially expected.

At the same time, we are continuing to work in Brussels to strengthen the Single Market, simplify our rules, cut red tape, diversify trade relations and reduce our dependencies. Lastly, we are ready to activate support measures at national level, but we also ask for them be launched at European level for the sectors that may be particularly affected by US tariff measures.

The Italian Government will continue to pursue the goal of maintaining the strong unity of the West, being aware that any division would make us all weaker and vulnerable to global challenges.

Courtesy translation of the statement by the President of the Council of Ministers, Giorgia Meloni, and the Vice-Presidents of the Council of Ministers, Antonio Tajani and Matteo Salvini