Tariff war between EU, US not interest of any party: Italian premier

By Ahmet Gencturk

ATHENS (AA) – A tariff war between the US and the EU is not interest of any party, warned Italian premier, according to local media.

“The issue of the trade surplus is not an issue that arose with the Trump presidency, it is an issue that American administrations have often raised,” remarked Georgia Meloni in a press statement following the conclusion of her visit to Saudi Arabia, the state-run ANSA news agency announced on Monday.

However, the matter is more complicated than it seems, according to Italian premier.

Meloni explained that in terms of trade of goods, the surplus was in favor of Europe of over €150 billion ($157 billion) in 2023 but the US benefited from €100 billion surplus when its service export to the union is included to the trade figures.

“This state of affairs demonstrate our economies are interconnected and therefore, let's a clash is not in anyone's interest,” she said.

Against this background, Meloni stressed, she would work for development of a mutually beneficial and balanced resolution to the problem.

Also remarking on the bilateral relations with Saudi Arabia, she said both countries are keenly interested in forming strategic ties in numerous domains.

Saudi Arabia is a key player in the Middle East Meloni added, maintaining Riyadh can particularly play an important role in the resolution of Israeli-Palestine conflict, and in Lebanon.

Meloni also reiterated that they support Saudi Arabia’s participation in the joint venture of Italy, Japan and the UK to develop a supersonic next-generation fighter jet by 2035.