Italy has called for a measured European response after the White House announced a new round of Trump tariffs over the weekend. This followed a Supreme Court ruling which determined the previous tariffs to be illegal.
Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Italy would seek clarity before reacting to Washington’s latest move. Speaking in Brussels ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers, Tajani stressed that “trade wars are no good for anyone” and urged restraint.
The ruling by the Supreme Court of the United States on Friday invalidated an important pillar of the Trump administration’s previous tariff framework, raising questions about its legal basis and potential compensation claims. However, President Donald Trump announced fresh 15% tariffs at the weekend through a different mechanism, reigniting uncertainty in global markets.
“The Supreme Court ruling is unclear too regarding, for example, the issue of potential compensation,” Tajani said. “We need clarity, we need to know exactly what the proposal is, and what they intend to do with the agreement reached with the EU last year.”
G7 International Trade meeting today
Tajani confirmed he had held a lengthy conversation on Sunday with European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and would take part in a G7 meeting on international trade on Monday. A meeting of the Italian government’s tariffs task force with representatives of domestic businesses will follow.
“We’ll hear what the Americans have to say at the G7 meeting on international trade,” he said. “Italy’s position is to work together with Europe and with our partners to ensure that commitments are maintained and, above all, our concern is to reassure all Italian export companies.”
Tajani underlined the importance of exports to the Italian economy. “Let’s remember that exports represent almost 40% of our gross domestic product, so we must work diligently, with determination, prudence and intelligence to protect businesses,” he said. “We really must stay calm at this moment in time. Uncontrolled reactions will not help us achieve our goals.”
He added that the core legal and political dispute lay within the United States, but with clear consequences for Italy’s production system. “We will work together with the European Commission because at this stage, EU unity and solidarity are needed,” he said.
Opposition parties in Italy have criticised Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni for not immediately commenting after Trump announced the new tariffs. They accused her of failing to defend national interests forcefully enough.
