Initial reactions to the shocking White House communication setting tariffs on European products at 30% starting August 1st."We take note of the letter sent by US President Trump," declared EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who then observed:"Imposing 30% tariffs on EU exports would disrupt key transatlantic supply chains, to the detriment of businesses, consumers, and patients on both sides of the Atlantic." "We remain ready to continue working to reach an agreement by August 1st. At the same time, we will take all necessary measures to safeguard EU interests, including the adoption of proportionate countermeasures, if necessary," concluded von der Leyen.
“Free and fair trade fosters prosperity, creates jobs and strengthens supply chains. Tariffs are taxes. They fuel inflation, create uncertainty and hinder economic growth. We will continue to build strong trading partnerships around the world. The EU remains firm, united and ready to protect our interests, fully supporting the efforts of President Ursula von der Leyen and the Commission to reach a fair deal with the United States,” writes the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, on X.
French President Emmanuel Macron also wrote on X: “France shares the strong disapproval of the President of the European Commission. In European unity, it is more than ever up to the Commission to affirm the Union’s determination to resolutely defend European interests. This includes accelerating the preparation of credible countermeasures, mobilizing all available tools, including the coercion mechanism, if no agreement is reached by 1 August.”
Germany's approach is"softer." Economy Minister Katherine Reiche calls for "pragmatic" negotiations."The EU must now, in the time it has left, pragmatically negotiate a solution with the United States that focuses on the main points of contention," she said."Unjustified tariffs that destroy prosperity," said Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, who reiterated his support for the Commission."United, we Europeans constitute the largest trading bloc in the world. We will use this strength to reach a fair agreement," added the Socialist leader.
Giorgia Meloni, who has staked a lot on her relationship with Donald Trump, has chosen a very conciliatory line. The note from Palazzo Chigi reads:" We trust in the goodwill of all the actors involved to reach a fair agreement, which can strengthen the West as a whole, given that – particularly in the current scenario – it would make no sense to trigger a trade war between the two sides of the Atlantic."
"Trade relations between the US and Italy are excellent and, as the government rightly pointed out, the conflict is senseless. Trump has no reason to take it out on our country, but once again we are paying the price of a German-led Europe," this is the Lega's statement.
The first to speak out from the opposition was Democratic Party secretary Elly Schlein, who suggested Brussels target US big tech."We expect a clear and strong position from the government and Giorgia Meloni, which hasn't happened so far. Their political connections can't harm national and European interests. Now we need to strengthen every negotiating effort that can avoid these 30% tariffs," says the Democratic Party leader.
"Trump's 30% tariffs represent the total failure of Giorgia Meloni and Ursula von der Leyen's strategy. They thought that by fawning over the President of the United States they would get zero tariffs, but instead they've received a blow for businesses and Made in Italy, which we will pay dearly for," the Five Star Movement delegation to the European Parliament noted in a statement.
Businesses, “A knockout blow” – “We need to stay calm and keep our nerves steady. We cannot compromise our financial markets. It is obvious that the letter from the United States is an unpleasant desire to negotiate,” commented the president of Confindustria, Emanuele Orsini , who only on Friday had underlined the dangers of customs tariffs of even just 10%. “Tariffs of 30%, combined with the dollar's weak position, will be difficult for many sectors of our industry to sustain. The EU and the Italian government will have to intervene with concrete measures to support the competitiveness of our businesses,” observes Raffaele Boscaini , president of Confindustria Veneto. Confartigianato instead calls for support measures for small and medium-sized businesses. Then Federlegno: “A heavy measure, but we must negotiate.”
"For European agriculture, and for Italian agriculture, it would be a sentence that would affect not only the primary sector, but the economies of entire countries," warns the president of Confagricoltura, Massimiliano Giansanti."Our businesses," he adds,"could not bear a burden of this type, and the issue does not only concern the agri-food supply chain." Coldiretti considers the 30% a "moral blow." The Grana Padano consortium is harsh, calling Trump's decision an"act of war."
Federalimentare speaks of a tariff that “ exceeds any tolerable threshold for businesses, increasing the risk of a significant drop in exports, also in light of the current devaluation of the dollar “. “The imposition of a generalized 30% duty indiscriminately affects high value-added sectors, like ours,” says Giacomo Ponti, president of Federvini. “It is a very serious and unjustified measure, which penalizes not only European producers, but also American economic operators who are an integral part of our commercial supply chain.” Confcooperative president Maurizio Gardini calls it a “knockout blow.” Lamberto Frescobaldi, president of the Italian Wine Union (UIV), observes that “The 30% duty on wine, if confirmed, would almost be an embargo for 80% of Italian wine.”
