Italian minister warns of EU‑US trade war, urges dialogue
Italian Minister Adolfo Urso warns of a "devastating trade war" between the EU and the USA following Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs. He emphasizes that the EU must immediately adjust its economic policies and initiate a dialogue with Washington to avoid escalating tensions.
Adolfo Urso, the Minister for Enterprises and Made in Italy told La Stampa in an interview that the European Union cannot afford increased trade tensions with the USA. This is in response to Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico, and China.
Urso stated that Trump has a clear mandate from his country to reinforce American dominance, revive the industry, and boost the job market in the United States.
He added that the EU must take immediate steps to adjust its economic and environmental policies in response to the changing geopolitical landscape.
Minister calls for dialogue
The minister urged initiating dialogue with Washington to avoid a "devastating trade war." He emphasized that Italy's second most important trading partner after Germany was the USA. He noted that the luxury goods and food products branded as Made in Italy are particularly significant, which Americans "absolutely do not want to give up."
Urso expressed hope for constructive cooperation between the EU and the Trump administration, noting that the American president respects Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the only European leader invited to his inauguration.
The Italian minister also criticized the previous U.S. policy under Barack Obama, which he believes aimed to create a duopoly with China, shifting Washington's focus from Europe to the Pacific. He noted that Europe now has a chance to rebuild transatlantic relations and strengthen its position in the Mediterranean region.
Referring to the situation within the Union, Urso stated that the Green Deal collapsed in Berlin and predicted that Germany would confirm this in the upcoming parliamentary elections on February 23. In his opinion, a "front of reason" is growing in Europe, and the ideological approach to economic and climate policy is gradually losing significance.
