(Adnkronos) – The European Union must keep calm in its talks with US officials and seek a tariff deal like the United Kingdom’s to avoid a trade war, Italy said on Monday after US president Donald Trump threatened 30% tariffs against the 27-nation bloc at the weekend.
The EU “needs to stay calm and collected,” foreign minister Antonio Tajani said in an interview with Rome-based daily Il Messaggero.
“It must negotiate with its head held high, knowing that it is in everyone’s interest to avoid a trade war. Europe needs America, and vice versa,” Tajani said.
Trump stated in a letter on Saturday he would impose 30% tariffs on most EU imports from August 1, duties that EU trade chief Maros Sefcovic said would destroy transatlantic trade.
US negotiators were understood to be willing to continue previously promising negotiations with the EU, however, Sefcovic said.
But Sefcovic warned that the bloc would need to prepare for all outcomes, including possible counter-tariffs.
The EU Commission has proposed pausing the EU’s first package of potential tariffs on 21 billion euros worth of US goods until 1 August, a move which Tajani called “wise”.
Should the EU fail to reach a tariff deal with the US, though “the list of European tariffs is ready,” said Tajani.
“Firmness is not shown by reckless reactions but by tough negotiation,” he underlined.
Tajani said he’d like to see a US-EU tariff deal along the lines of the agreement reached between the US and the UK on 4 July. The US-UK deal exempts certain key British goods such as aircraft engines and parts, steel and aluminium from the US’s general 10% tariffs.
“I keep repeating that my goal is to achieve ‘double zero’: no tariffs between Europe and the US. I realise that’s not easy to achieve, but it’s the only way to grow our economies together,” said Tajani.
“Tariffs harm everyone, starting with the US. If markets fall, American pensions and savings are at risk,” he warned.
Tajani rejected opposition criticism of the stance taken by premier Giorgia Meloni, who enjoys good relations with Trump and who said in a statement on Sunday that she trusted a “fair agreement” could be reached on tariffs and that it would “make no sense” to trigger a transatlantic trade war.
“How can we not have a bridge to the US? They are our main ally,” Tajani underlined.
