"The European Council will probably disclose today an old list of US products subject to sanctions by applying higher duties. We believe that whiskey should not be included, since it would lead to higher duties on wine." The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Antonio Tajani, spoke at Vinitaly in Verona in connection from Brussels for the meeting of European trade ministers.
"There is great deal of unity on a European scale to prevent Member States making their own deals," Tajani went on. "It seems to me that there is also the EU Commission also largely agrees on the absolute necessity to avoid starting a trade war. The hope is to set zero US and EU tariffs, create a large, free economic space for the EU-US market, and to encourage economic growth».
Minister Tajani also announced a new plan to investigate new sectors where exports can be increased: "We will organise initiatives to explore new markets and recuperate all that we can from the damage caused by US tariffs,” he said. "We will travel to India this week, accompanied also by the President of Veronafiere, Federico Bricolo. This will be followed by a business forum in Caserta with the Dutch and then Japan, prior to Prime Minister Meloni's mission to the USA. Italy," the minister concluded," is keen to be a protagonist within the scope of a strategy that benefits not only our country but Europe as a whole."
The video conference also saw the involvement of the President of Veronafiere, Federico Bricolo, the President of ICE Trade Agency, Matteo Zoppas, and Hon. Maria Paola Boscaini.
As anticipated by Minister Tajani, Veronafiere will be involved with President Bricolo and General Manager Adolfo Rebughini 10-11 April in New Delhi for the Italy-India Scientific and Technological Business Forum. India is already included in Veronafiere's international development plan, following the organisation last 9 March in New Delhi itself of the first Vinitaly India Roadshow.