(Adnkronos) – Italy on Friday called for steel, aluminium, iron, wine and cheese as well as other key exports to be included in the baseline 15% tariff rate agreed between the United States and the European Union last July.
“Trade is fundamental for our economy and accounts for around 40% of our GDP,” Tajani, told reporters after “extremely pleasant and positive” talks in Rome with EU trade commissioner Maros Sefcovic.
“We have a plan to promote Italian exports,” Tajani continued.
Tajani underlined to Sefcovic how vital for Italy it is for a baseline 15% tariff to apply to the iron, wine, cheese and aluminium sectors “that are not yet included and which risk being subjected to higher rates.”
“Steel and aluminium risk being a very serious problem…the 50% tariff on steel, aluminium and by-products is terrible. It’s having an awful impact on the Italian automotive industry,” said Tajani.
“Then we have machinery and olive oil,” Tajani continued.
“Excluding these sectors would be a major problem,” Tajani stressed.
Tajani said he also asked Sefcovic “to support Italy in its action to protect our pasta exporting businesses”
Tajani rejected US accusations that some Italian pasta producers have exported their products to the US at unfairly low prices, leading to the US Department of Commerce slapping anti-dumping duties on pasta made by several Italian companies.
“We see no dumping activities being carried out by Italy and are in fact trying to resist Italian-sounding products, which threaten quality Italian-made products,” Tajani said.
Tajani thanked Sefcovic “for his constant support in asking for a revision of decisions in this area.”
“The Italian government and the (EU) Commission are working together to support Italian businesses and also in proceedings to protect the Italian past industry,” Tajani stated.
In a sign of his support, Sefcovic agreed to hold talks with Italian exporters “over our working lunch,” Tajani noted.
Tajani and Sefcovic’s talks also covered critical raw materials and rare earth minerals, he stated.
“We need to find and agreement between the EU, the US and Japan to make sure that our global competitiveness is ensured,” he said.
Rare earth minerals are “absolutely crucial” for countries like Italy, which is “the second industrial power-house in Europe”, said Tajani.
The sky-high prices of rare earth minerals and China’s restrictions on their exports “are very worrisome”, Tajani said.
“We need to keep talking to China and other producers to access these very valuable resources,” he underlined.
Italy is willing to host a European storage facility for rare earth minerals, Tajani announced.
“I just came back from Africa, where I reiterated the need to work together on raw materials through joint ventures between Italian and African companies,” Tajani added.
